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Planning Commission recommends approval of Dream House nightclub conditional use permit
Summary
The Richmond Planning Commission voted to recommend to City Council a conditional use permit allowing Dream House at 110 North 18th Street to operate as a nightclub (wine-and-beer service, midnight–2 a.m. Wed–Sun) under a management plan and an 18‑month probationary permit; staff recommended approval.
The Richmond Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council approve a conditional use permit for Dream House, a cabaret theater at 110 North 18th Street, allowing the venue to operate as a nightclub under specified conditions.
Staff presented Ordinance 2026-060 and told commissioners the parcel is designated destination mixed use in the Richmond 300 master plan and that nightclub uses are allowable only by conditional use permit in the existing B-5 central business district. The ordinance conditions cited section 30-442.01 of the Code of the City of Richmond and referenced a Dream House Management and Operations Plan prepared by Vincent Venuti and Dreamer Dreamer FX Studio LLC (dated 10/03/2025). Staff said the proposal ‘‘is generally consistent with the designation’’ and concluded, "Therefore, staff recommends approval of this request." (staff).
Applicant Vinny Venuti, who identified himself as owner of Dream House, told the commission the venue began as part of a ‘‘Choco Shine’’ initiative to reduce gun violence by bringing arts and programming into the neighborhood. Venuti said the business operates as a cabaret theater that celebrates drag, burlesque and other performance forms and that it aims to serve only wine and beer. He described safety measures including paid security (staffing based on crowd size) and volunteers he called "consenticorns" who circulate through the venue to improve safety and customer behavior.
Commissioners questioned how the management plan and the ordinance interact on hours and enforcement. The ordinance language specifies that the conditional use hours shall be from 12:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday and that the conditional use permit would be valid for a 548‑calendar‑day probationary period from issuance of a certificate of occupancy; staff said the 18‑month time limit may be removed by amendment if the applicant has no ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control), fire or zoning violations during the period.
At the close of the public hearing, the commission voted to recommend approval of Ordinance 2026-060 to City Council. The commission’s approval was recorded and the ordinance will be forwarded to City Council with the recommendation for approval.
The next procedural step: the item will appear on a future City Council agenda for final action.
