Resale shop denied 2020 business license due to lack of “storefront”

By Linda Trest, Staff Writer
Posted 1/15/20

John Hurley approached the Board of Aldermen in last Thursday’s meeting to ask why he was denied a business license.

Hurley says he opened Kelly’s Closet, a resale business in 2019 …

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Resale shop denied 2020 business license due to lack of “storefront”

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John Hurley approached the Board of Aldermen in last Thursday’s meeting to ask why he was denied a business license.

Hurley says he opened Kelly’s Closet, a resale business in 2019 and was granted a license to operate by the city. When he went to city hall to obtain a 2020 business license he was denied a license. He said the reason given was a lack of a store front for his business. His business did not change location.

Kelly’s Closet operated in a building that once housed the Gerald Garage, just behind Boeuff Presbyterian Church on Fourth Street. A look through city codes found no definition of a store front. So far, no one with the city has been able to provide a definition as it pertains to this situation.

City Clerk Stephanie Lusk says that she was not the one who denied the license. It may have happened before the departure of former clerk, Jane Hungler. According to city codes, the city clerk is the city license officer. As such, they have the authority to “promulgate rules and regulations” pertaining to business licenses. These rules must be approved by the mayor and kept on file at city hall.

Hurley says his business was given a warning that it must clean up items sitting on the sidewalk and edge of the street. He says he complied with the notice before a citation was issued.

Ed Adams, president of the board, was contacted by phone Tuesday, Jan. 14. He said he was not aware of the situation before the meeting. He did remark that the business had merchandise on the city’s sidewalk and into the street.

When asked if the city or property owner owned the sidewalk, the call was abruptly disconnected. A call back to Adams went straight to voice mail. No response was made to the voice mail left for him.

Hurley told the board he had found a different place in which to locate his business. He hoped to be able to make the deal by the middle of the month. He asked if he could then get a business license. He was advised to wait until he had procured a new location before applying for a license again.