Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold cast the deciding vote for the city to purchase the old Zen’s building on Neville Street for just over $1 million — a decision that has caused controversy for area residents and business owners.
This vote, made during Tuesday evening’s council meeting, was divided between the no votes of councilmembers Tom Sopher, Cody Reedy and Janine Bullock and the yes votes of councilmembers Sherrie Hunter, Kevin Price and Bob Canter. Councilmember Robert Dunlap, citing an ethics violation due to his work in real estate law, did not vote.
The city plans to purchase the building and the parking lot across the street for $1,010,000. Following the purchase, the city will lease the building to Tammy Jordan, CEO of Fruits of Labor.
During a special workshop meeting on June 7, Jordan expressed an interest in the building.
“I have been begged to come to Beckley,” Jordan stated. “We have been looking for many, many months now at different locations all across Raleigh County.”
Jordan was raised in Beckley but opened her flagship Fruits of Labor location in the Greenbrier County town of Rainelle. Since the founding of Fruits of Labor in 2001, Jordan has been expanding her enterprise into the communities of Alderson and Montgomery, WV.
Her business model focuses on teaching the culinary arts to people in recovery with the ultimate goal of allowing them to find employment in restaurants. She partners with local recovery programs, prisons and community leaders to locate those who would benefit from the services provided by Fruits of Labor.
Rappold stated during that meeting that Fruits of Labor would become an “anchor” for the revitalization of uptown Beckley. However, since the city plans to purchase the old Zen’s building and lease it to Jordan, many are against it.
Councilmember Sopher previously stated “I know no one is buying me a building to put my business in. I know how the public will accept that and it might not go over as well as we think.”
Dr. Kristi Dumas, a Beckley resident and business owner, spoke out against the purchase on Tuesday.
“What about the people — people who are trying to revitalize uptown currently running businesses against the odds of being successful in that space and area?” she asked. “We have to provide incentive and motivation for folks to continue to get up every day to make ends meet. I urge you to vote no.”
Dumas continued that “the business model and perspective of the new occupant may be a new and innovative business model and concept for you, but for me, it feels like deja vu.”
Dumas stated that she had once worked at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles County, CA, a notoriously dangerous jail due to high levels of gang member incarceration. Through her work there, she studied recidivism rates and spoke with many former gang members who received a culinary degree through the famous Homeboy Industries — a pioneering culinary arts training program that specializes in gang intervention and rehab.
Dumas said that, based on her experiences, she believes a culinary training center is unsustainable.
The council must hold a public hearing before the second vote on the purchase of the old Zen’s building before the ordinance is passed. This meeting will occur on Tuesday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m. in city council chambers. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
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