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Planning commission recommends two-year conditional approval for Coalescence Coffee to expand banquet, alcohol and entertainment
Summary
Coalescence Coffee LLC sought conditional use permits to operate a restaurant with on-premise alcohol, enlarge banquet hall operations and add live entertainment at 226 W. 24th St.; staff recommended approval with a two-year expiration due to capacity and entertainment changes.
The City of Norfolk Planning Commission recommended approval of conditional use permits for Coalescence Coffee LLC at 226 West 24th Street to operate as a restaurant serving alcohol after 5 p.m., expand banquet-hall operations and add live entertainment, subject to staff conditions and a two-year expiration.
Planning staff said the site is in the Park Place neighborhood and the proposal aligns with Plan Norfolk 2030’s encouragement of converting underused industrial areas to mixed commercial, office and residential uses. The property also lies in the Norfolk and Western Historic Overlay.
Staff noted the applicant had previously operated one of the three interior spaces as a banquet hall; the current request would apply banquet, alcohol and entertainment to all three spaces. Staff summarized several event layouts and said the largest banquet configuration would provide 104 indoor seats and a total capacity of 354; restaurant configurations would seat up to 129 indoors with a total capacity of 254. Given the increase in capacity and the broader entertainment program, staff recommended approval with a two-year expiration to allow city review after the initial operating period.
The application lists a range of entertainment options including live band, trivia, karaoke, comedy, poetry readings, art exhibits, films, theater performances, fashion shows, dance classes, workshops, markets and DJs (staff noted DJs would be limited to banquet-hall events). Commissioners heard staff describe hours that would remain consistent with earlier approvals: general opening hours and entertainment/alcohol hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily in staff’s presentation.
No substantive public objections were recorded on the transcript. Commissioners voted to recommend approval; the motion passed with recorded Ayes from Commissioner Pendleton, Commissioner Vann, Commissioner Wells, Commissioner Young, Commissioner Bateman and Commissioner Sutter. Staff will forward the recommendation and conditions to City Council for final action.
