Hillbilly Heaven operating without city licences
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/909231--hillbilly-heaven-operating-without-city-licences
Hillbilly Heaven – the controversial southern barbeque joint that proudly displays the Confederate flag – is operating its two restaurants without city licences.
Neither the Upper James nor the downtown locations are licensed by the city, said Debbie Spence of the planning and economic development department.
Hillbilly owner Cameron Bailey says he hasn’t licensed his Upper James location since its opening two-and-a-half years ago because of the city’s $2,000 re-zoning fee. Bailey has also refused to pay the $250 “zoning verification fee” for his new downtown location.
“My argument is this: in a city where we’re trying to employ people, why is the city being so difficult over small amounts of money?” he said. “If it comes right down to it, I will fire two of my staff so I can give the city their $2,000.”
Bailey says that since his Upper James building was zoned only for take-out, not eat-in dining, he was required to submit architectural drawings – which he said cost $8,000. He says he’s since acquired the drawings, but still refuses to pay a further $2,000 to change the building’s zoning to allow eat-in tables.
“If you ask me, the whole thing is ridiculous. To have a small business owner draw a picture of what amounts to 5 or 6 tables is just ridiculous,” he said. “Everybody has to pay the fees, only because they go along like sheep. What I’m saying is these fees don’t make any sense at all, other than you want to shake somebody down to own a business.”
Spence says the city follows a specific process to address unlicensed businesses. The penalties, including fines, escalate the longer a business operates without a licence.
Hillbilly Heaven is no stranger to controversy. Bailey’s insistence on displaying the Confederate flag, seen by many as a symbol of racial hatred, has drawn the attention of media outlets across Canada and beyond. Even Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young weighed in, asking Bailey to take down the flag.
The restaurant has also drawn criticism for displaying signs about ethnic foods.
The Upper James location displays has a sign by the cash register that says “halal, rice, kabob, shawarma, fries, wings, ¼ chicken, Mexican and burgers are “things we don’t have and never will.”
On the door it says “to better serve you, our staff speaks ENGLISH” and “What would make you think this was a Korean BBQ? Do you see any f’n ducks in the window?”
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Great looking resto inside!
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