Man Shot Outside The Palace Nightclub (Norfolk, Va)

courtesy: pilotonline.com

By Denise M. Watson
Patrick Wilson
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 28, 2013

NORFOLK

A 27-year-old man was shot in the cheek near a downtown Norfolk nightclub early Friday, police said.

The shooting happened outside The Palace on Plume Street about 1:45 a.m., according to a police report. The victim was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital; his wounds did not appear to be life-threatening, police spokesman Chris Amos said.

“Some kind of altercation broke out outside by The Palace nightclub between several individuals, and at some point, somebody pulls a gun out, and they fire their gun,” Amos said.

It was not clear whether the victim was part of the dispute or an onlooker, he said.

Nightclub owner Kenny Bullock declined to comment. Kevin Martingayle, the club’s attorney, issued a statement via email that read:

“We are currently unaware of any connection to the Palace, other than the shooting having occurred outside and close to the establishment. The Palace intends to cooperate with law enforcement and strongly condemns all acts of violence. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that any business can do about criminal behavior on public streets and sidewalks. Nevertheless, the Palace is always open to suggestions for enhancing public safety.”

Police said they are looking for the shooter and asked that anyone with information on his identity call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

Four people were stabbed in September during a fight at The Palace. One person was hospitalized, and a man from Richmond was arrested.

In another incident, Timothy Jenkins of Newport News was fatally shot in a moving Ford Explorer in August 2011 on Interstate 264 in Norfolk. Virginia State Police have said they believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute that started inside The Palace. The homicide remains unsolved. Anyone with information on the Jenkins case can call state police at 424-6800.

Norfolk officials considered revoking the club’s alcohol license in 2011 but decided to approve it, with Councilman Tommy Smigiel the lone vote against.

Pilot writer Denise M. Watson contributed to this report.

Patrick Wilson, 757-222-3893, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com

For Norfolk public safety updates, follow reporter Patrick Wilson on Twitter.

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Big Daddy’s Bar & Grill Closed For Good (Portsmouth, VA)

Big Daddy’s Bar & Grill in Portsmouth is the target of a civil lawsuit over a slew of crimes at its location. (Thé N. Pham | The Virginian-Pilot)

By Tim Eberly
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 7, 2013
PORTSMOUTH

During business hours Friday, Big Daddy’s Bar & Grill’s front door was locked – its parking lot empty.

No one appeared to be inside or answered phone calls. There was no sign for patrons. The sometimes-bustling bar won’t be open for business this weekend. Or any future ones.

The owner of the nightclub suddenly shut down operations Thursday, declining to fight a civil lawsuit from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Big Daddy’s owner Linda Weiland chose to shutter the bar in order to focus on helping a sister who needs medical attention in South Carolina, said her attorney, F. Sullivan Callahan.

Callahan delivered a letter Thursday afternoon to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s regional office in Chesapeake. The letter, obtained by The Virginian-Pilot, contained a single paragraph.

“As a result of family medical issues, my client is no longer operating Big Daddy’s Bar & Grill and has closed the same as of today’s date,” Callahan wrote.

Included with Callahan’s letter was the business’s license to sell alcohol, which he surrendered on behalf of Weiland.

“She just said, ‘Look, it’s easier for me to shut down,’ ” Callahan told The Pilot on Friday.

Big Daddy’s closure fell on the same day that The Pilot published a front-page article about the commonwealth’s attorney’s intent to close the bar on the grounds that it was a nuisance to the community.

Since 2008, 52 crimes have been reported there, and police have fielded 428 calls to respond to the establishment, according to the prosecutor’s lawsuit.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Tim Oksman, who is handling the suit against Big Daddy’s, said the closure of the bar was “a very positive development. I’m pleased with it.”

Oksman said he needs to meet with Commonwealth’s Attorney Earle Mobley, who was out of town Friday, to decide how to proceed.

Callahan declined to discuss the suit’s contention that Big Daddy’s had become a haven for criminal activity while the bar’s management offered no help to police.

He did say that, for the past three years, Weiland has been dealing with several ailing relatives, including a brother who died in Vietnam and a brother-in-law who died in South Carolina, Callahan said.

“She hasn’t been here,” Callahan said. “In the last three years, she’s been between (Vietnam) and South Carolina more than she’s been in Virginia.”

But the bar’s problems go back further than three years.

Big Daddy’s has been issued four ABC violations since 2007, including three for submitting inaccurate information about the bar’s inventory and sales of food and alcohol, according to ABC records. The other stemmed from selling alcohol to an underage person.

In addition, ABC had issued 10 written warnings dating back to 2006. Among them: incidents of disorderly conduct, loitering and failing to keep proper records.

The bar had been open since December 2004, according to city records.

At other businesses on Turnpike Road on Friday, it was business as usual, though some weren’t pleased with the news.

Across the street, used car dealership manager Wilson Goode said the nightclub didn’t disrupt his business.

“I’m never glad anybody’s closing their business,” Goode said. “People go into business to make a living.”

For Roy Boykins, who owns Munchies Snack Shack nearby, the closure will take away some of his revenue. He said the manager and bar workers frequently bought food from him.

“They order from us, so I’m kind of sad they’re not going to be open,” he said. “It’s not good news. They’ve been really nice to me.”

Callahan said he doesn’t know what’s next for Weiland after she tends to her sister. Weiland has owned nightclubs and restaurants in Hampton Roads for many years, he said.