NORFOLK, Va. — More than a year ago, Norfolk city leaders cracked down on several downtown businesses after a wave of violence struck the corridor. Now, Granby Street is seeing some new facades.
A deadly triple shooting outside of Chicho's Pizza Backstage in 2022 was just one of several incidents that sparked change on Granby Street. It was followed by a shooting inside MacArthur Center Mall weeks later and a quadruple shooting outside of Legacy Restaurant and Lounge in the summer of 2022.
In the aftermath, the city investigated several businesses, and shut down more. Former nightclub Scotty Quixx was one of a few that lost its conditional use permit.
But now, a new business has taken over the location. It’s called CM Chicken.
“Korean food is getting popular in the worldwide… I think that means the local people here also like Korean food," Owner Bong Park told 13News Now.
Park moved from South Korea to Hampton Roads 20 years ago. He hopes CM Chicken introduces people to all Korean street food has to offer.
"My only hope is getting more customers and that they enjoy the Korean food. That is my wish," Park said.
The Granby Street restaurant opened Tuesday. It marks Park's second location, the first being in Hampton.
"That [Hampton location] is very successful. So, we had been looking other areas to open our second store," said Park's daughter-in-law, Bora Kim, who works at the restaurant.
Kim said when they found the Granby location, they jumped on it. Kim also hopes the new restaurant will bring its own unique flavor to the Downtown Norfolk restaurant scene.
CM Chicken is located at 436 Granby Street.