VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — It’s a win for people tired of the violence in the 400 block of North Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach, as two trouble areas that residents say attracted violence are now closed, with the owner of both Central 111 Tapas Lounge and Venue 112 terminating their leases and turning in their liquor licenses.
This resulted from getting several players involved, from the attorney general, the ABC Board, along with state representatives, the police and the landlord.
Man killed along N. Great Neck Rd., suspect in custody
10 On Your Side has previously reported on the violence that has happened here. A woman was injured after being shot this past July, and Juelle Morton, 20, was shot and killed in late September. Police arrested Cesar Evans, 21, and charged him with second degree murder — he’s being held in jail without bond. Both shootings happened around 2 a.m. outside the only locations still open at that time — Central 111 Tapas Lounge and Venue 112.“It’s just, nothing good happens after midnight,” said Virginia Beach City Councilman Stacy Cummings. “My mom told me that when I was a little kid.”An employee at one of the shops said they’ve seen a drastic drop off in shoppers over the last year alone because of the violence. She told 10 On Your Side off-camera that she and others felt unsafe staying late to do inventory because of people loitering in the parking lot and approaching them as they walked to their cars.
Soon after the 10 On Your Side story in September, the landlord took the first step in cracking down.“The Breeden Company notified all the tenants here that the shopping center would be closed at 11, and that really started the wind down of these two businesses,” Cummings said.And after we reached out to Cummings in October about the issue, it went farther.“Through more investigation with the ABC Board and the police, they were able to force the issue,” Cummings said, “and the landlord and the owner of these two establishments came to a resolution that they would terminate the lease.”As of Wednesday afternoon, 10 On Your Side has been told that both Central 111 and Venue 112 are officially closed after agreeing to terminate their lease and turn in their liquor license…