Richwood Code Enforcement Business Suffers

A Richwood businessman is bewildered by actions taken against him by the town that severely curtailed his weekend revenue. The business, located on Hadley St. right at the cusp of Monroe, but in Richwood, was abruptly closed on Friday, October 18, 2024, by Richwood Code Enforcement. According to the business owner, he received a notice from town officials stating that he didn't have the necessary water supply to operate his food business and, therefore, it would have to close.

When he went to town hall to inquire about why he was allegedly without water, he was unable to speak with the Code Enforcement officer, as that individual "wasn't available." Later that day, when he went to his business, he was met by Code Enforcement and a police officer, who allegedly informed him that if he opened for business, he "would be arrested."

The businessman said that being closed over the weekend caused him to lose a substantial amount of money. It was expected to be a busy weekend, as he had planned to host a concert in addition to serving food, which would have drawn a large crowd. He explained that the forced closure on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday not only cost him revenue but also impacted the town of Richwood, which, in his view, appeared anti-business. He added that his business, like others, was adhering to the 2:00 AM closing time.

On Monday, October 21, 2024, he returned to inquire about his alleged water issue but was told that the "matter had been resolved." The businessman said he was not informed how it had been determined that he had water problems, nor was he notified that the issue had been resolved in time to prevent unloading his inventory due to the closure. He expressed concern that certain business owners may be "picked on" due to past issues with some town officials. He concluded that actions like these are not beneficial for the town if it wants to grow.