Scotty Quixx faces closure as Norfolk escalates crackdown on downtown nightclub violations
Scotty Quixx, a popular nightclub and restaurant on Granby Street, is facing closure by the city. The action comes amid a rapidly escalating campaign to clamp down on Norfolk nightclub violations after several high-profile shootings.
The city and City Council have shuttered two downtown nightclubs this month where violent incidents have occurred. But while those might have felt like the city picking a fight with a couple bad actors, the potential closure of Scotty Quixx, a fixture on Granby Street for nearly two decades, is more likely to feel like a declaration of war on Norfolk restaurants that step out of line.
In a Sept. 12 letter sent by Norfolk city attorneys to Scotty Quixx’ owners, the city stated it had “initiated action to revoke” the restaurant’s conditional use permit for discrepancies in its meals tax reporting.
The letter said Scotty Quixx’ meals tax reports to the city are “significantly lower” than the amount reported to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. Because of this, officials claim that one of the meals tax totals provided to the city and Virginia ABC must be inaccurate, which is a violation of its permit.
The City Council will vote on whether to revoke Scotty Quixx’ conditional use permit Sept. 27, according to the letter. If the permit is taken away, it would be forced to close until it obtains a new zoning certificate to operate as a restaurant. If and when that is in hand, it could then operate without alcohol sales and with a nightly closing time of midnight.
Scottie Quixx has avoided recent violence that has plagued downtown Norfolk and some of its businesses. It was the scene of a late-night shooting more than three years ago. A 23-year-old man shot into a crowd outside the restaurant at about 1 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2019, wounding one person.
Chris Johnson, one of Scottie Quixx’ owners, told The Virginian-Pilot he felt the city’s actions are “drastic” and “unfair.”
“It feels like an attack,” Johnson said.
A city employee hand-delivered the letter to a restaurant employee during business hours without any advance warning, Johnson said. Since then, he said the city has not communicated with the owners, and has not answered or returned their phone calls.
Johnson said he didn’t know why the city was targeting Scotty Quixx. He said the club has been largely free of any violent incidents since the shooting there in 2019.
If the club’s permit is revoked, Johnson said he plans to reapply for one, a process that could take months. In the meantime, he said the impact of the permit revocation would be “detrimental” for the business.
“I’ve still got rent to pay,” Johnson said.
City Manager Chip Filer has taken a more forceful approach to reining in rising crime in the downtown area following a trio of shootings there, including two late-night incidents outside of nightclubs and restaurants.
The City Council revoked a conditional use permit for Legacy Restaurant and Lounge on Sept. 13, where a shooting left four injured on Aug. 5.
The city also closed Culture Lounge & Restaurant on Sept. 2 for violating its zoning permit. Culture had its conditional use permit revoked in 2021 after several violent incidents were reported outside the club, but it remained open with reduced hours for nearly a year.
Chicho’s Backstage on Granby Street, where a shooting occurred in March that left one person injured and three dead, including a Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press reporter, has not had its conditional use permit revoked by the city.
Daniel Berti, daniel.berti@virginiamedia.com
