New Port Richey council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Ordinance #2015-2075, prohibiting convenience stores from opening in the “downtown zoning district.” The “district” covers a large portion of New Port Richey’s downtown, from Madison Avenue to West of US19. The ordinance appears to be aimed at the Main Street Food Mart, located directly across from City Hall in town. Bay News 9 quoted Police Chief Kim Bogart as saying that the store has frequent visits from law enforcement.

The convenience store that already exists in downtown New Port Richey – Main Street Food Mart – has already been connected to dozens of 911 calls in this year alone.

“Thirty-four suspicious persons calls, we had four batteries, three assaults, four drug violations,” said Police Chief Kim Bogart.

Bay News 9

City Manager Debbie Manns phrased the need for the restriction as supporting other retail shops downtown. “We are also asking that we list as a prohibited use in the downtown zoning district a convenience store as it tends to detract from other retail purposes in the downtown area,” she said.

The ordinance will still need a second vote on February 2nd before it will go into effect. The ban will affect only new stores, and will not result in the closure of Main Street Food Mart, unless the store closes for a period longer than six months.