Bob Buffington wants to keep Captain Buzzy’s Beanery open one hour longer each day – they’re currently open until 9 p.m. and would be open until 10 p.m. – and add beer and wine to the menu. Although the Church Hill Association approved the amendments to extend hours and sell beer and wine, the Richmond Planning Commission recently shot it down, recommending denial of Bob’s request. The Richmond City Council will meet this Monday, June 24, to discuss the application.

Buzzy’s is a small, local business that Richmonders have watched grow from the Ugly Mug Coffee and Tea at the Market to a cornerstone of the Church Hill community. The shop has become a “third place” for many residents. However, Buzzy’s is a business, after all, and competition has grown in recent years as the neighborhood has continued to develop. The extra hour of business and the added income from beer and wine sales would improve the coffee shop, keep jobs, and help secure Buzzy’s future in Church Hill. The additional revenue would also help pay for Bob’s daughter’s college tuition and keep a promise to Bob’s late wife Mary Ann to keep her beloved Buzzy’s alive.