C Street businesses complain about film‑related closures; county says it will seek to narrow impact

Business owners on C Street told the Story County Board of County Commissioners during public comment that a film shoot closed all access to the street and caused lost sales, employee wages and food spoilage.

Jennifer Nair, owner of the Palace Restaurant and Saloon, said a full closure began that morning and that "most of them are going to close this morning," tallying employee‑wage losses and a minimum of $1,500 in revenue losses for that single day. Nair said she did not receive notice and asked the county to limit future closures to smaller sections so businesses remain open and avoid staffing and food‑waste losses.

Susan Lewis, who has operated a C Street business for 31 years, said she was "devastated" and urged better notification to merchants. Both speakers asked whether the county had authorized the street closure.

County Manager Austin Osborne said his team "learned of this this morning" and that the closure was an action of the Virginia City Tourism Commission (VCTC). He said county staff is "looking into it" to confirm the permit terms and urged the VCTC and film contractor to limit closures to the immediate filming area. Public Information Officer Julia Moreno Fritz said county communications would post confirmed closure details and update social media and the county website. Sheriff Cullin said the sheriff’s office expected a small closure in front of the Washoe Club and confirmed the office would tighten its permit‑signoff checks with the VCTC to ensure business outreach occurs.

The board asked staff to continue follow‑up and return any clarifying information to affected merchants. No formal county action or compensation was granted during the meeting; county staff said they would press the VCTC and contractor to reduce the closure footprint and improve notification.