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East Atlantic business owners complain to DDA about concerts, parking and safety at Subculture Coffee
Summary
Neighbors and nearby business owners told the DDA that Subculture Coffee’s late-night events and patron parking are causing repeated nuisances, alleged property damage and safety concerns; owners urged DDA and city action.
Several downtown business owners and residents used the DDA public-comment period to report repeated parking, noise and safety problems they said stem from a business at 302 Northeast 6th Avenue known as Subculture Coffee.
A resident speaking from 323 Northeast 6th Avenue described an event on Jan. 9 that she said turned a small coffee shop into a four-band concert with “mosh pit” conditions, unattended liquor and alleged drug use by minors. She said concerts and persistent illegal parking around the business made her scrap a planned pediatric care project in the building because of safety and parking concerns.
Albert Richwagens, who identified himself as owner of Richwagens Bicycle at 298 Northeast 6th Avenue, told the board Subculture’s events have long disrupted neighboring businesses and residents. He said businesses near Atlantic Avenue rely on predictable customer traffic and that nighttime concerts and the events’ ancillary parking are hurting some retailers. Richwagens said he has recorded 39 police calls to Subculture since it opened and said his business and a duplex he owns behind the coffee shop have been affected by vandalism and vomit on his property after events.
Board members acknowledged the seriousness of the complaints and noted Subculture’s conduct had been raised to staff and at the city commission previously. Assistant City Manager Jeff Horace said the city is aware and that staff are looking at outstanding issues; he advised the public that enforcement and any potential zoning or permit changes will follow the city’s normal code-enforcement and licensing processes. Several board members suggested bringing this specific property back as an agenda item so staff can present detailed information about permits and enforcement steps.
No formal DDA regulatory action or enforcement motion was taken at the Jan. 13 meeting; the board asked staff to provide a future agenda item focused on this property and on the broader restaurant/nightlife licensing discussion already scheduled.
