MOJO BONES will be applying for new hours to operate until 1:00am, seven days a week. 

For those not familiar with the history of Ocean View, since the early 1990′s there has been a policy that new restaurants could not sell alcohol past 11:00pm on weekdays, and 12:00am on the weekends.  This policy also extended beyond Ocean View into the Little Creek Road corridor and parts of Bayview.  In almost all other Norfolk areas, restaurants or bars can stay open until 2:00am, seven days a week. 

The rule does not apply to eateries that opened before 1992. Greenies, and the Thirsty Camel restaurants stay open until 2 a.m. Both are owned by a well-known Ocean View family - builder Ronnie Boone Sr. and Judy Boone, a real estate agent.

However the city policy has not been enforced consistently.  Four restaurants in the ward have been granted permission in recent years to sell alcohol after midnight.

For example, The Ocean View Fishing Pier & Top Deck bar and restaurant was given permission to serve until 2 a.m. in 2005. Norfolk Mayor Fraim said at the time, it was a way for the Boones to recoup some of their investment.

"The rules have not been applied consistently," said Councilman Smigiel

MOJO BONES recently applied to extend their operating hours.  With advice from city leaders, MOJO BONES spent the past several months meeting with Civic Leagues in Ocean View, and they received overwhelming support from the majority of the Civic Leagues.  Five of six civic leagues voted in favor of their requests. In addition two more civic organizations and the Ocean View Business Association also endorsed their plan.

"It's a matter of simple fairness," Ocean View Civic League president Al Saunders said. "I'm a painter, and it would not be fair for the city to say that I can paint houses on one side of the road and my competitors could not."

"The city should be giving everyone a fair shake," said Aaron Ellis, vice president of the Bayview Civic League which supports Mojo Bones' request.

"For these restaurant owners to get this much support, most would think they would have no problem getting this through Norfolk’s Planning Commission.  Not so fast.  Although no one spoke against their applications, with a 3-3 vote, the Planning Commission sent a recommendation of “no” to City Council. 

Obviously, there was some politics behind the vote." stated Councilman Smigiel

There was some debate at a City Council Informal session, and at one point got heated as council discussed the inconsistencies of how the city grants this exception.  Council are just not willing, even with overwhelming community support, to go against this twenty year policy.  Even the City Manager’s Office recognized the lack of consistency and recommended to delay this vote until after they brought forward new procedures on granting special exceptions in May.  Sadly, nothing has been done.

Eight of ten civic leagues and business associations surveyed by the city endorse the proposals. However, a statement was made by Councilman Barclay C. Winn, "I respect the civic leagues very much, but not everyone is a civic league person."

We will answer that call with this petition.  We will let council know that the hundreds of civic league supporters will turn into thousands of resident’s voices.

What we have is really a case of small town politics.  Favoritism has been shown.  Rules have been broken.  Regulations have been overlooked.  It is time to let our voice be heard.  A voice that says we will not stand idly by.  A voice that says FAIR IS FAIR! The community of Ocean View's voice will be heard and it will be heard through this petition to support MOJO BONES until 1:00am, seven days a week.