Beer Museum proprietor’s social media ‘bullying tactics’ decried to council

Opponents of David Downes request to have private parking spaces behind his properties at 14 and 16 Chester Street exempted for expansion of a ‘Beer Garden” outdoor activities area for his Virginia Beer Museum took their case to the Front Royal Town Council on Monday night, September 24.

Four “Public Concerns” speakers, including two East Main Street business owners whose properties back up to the Downes’ law office and Beer Museum properties at issue, asked council not to overturn a unanimous Town Planning Commission recommendation Downes’ parking exemption request be denied.

Both Main Street Pawn owner Ralph Waller and Nicole’s Jewelry proprietor Inna Kolesnik reiterated points concerning access, safety and already congested downtown parking they made before the planning commission. They were supported by two more speakers, Amber Poe-Morris and Marilyn Kane.

However, Waller pointed to social media posts he said Downes has made since the planning commission vote that he termed “bullying tactics”. Those social media posts have upped the ante in the downtown business owners’ dispute, adding a personal and confrontational tone that had been simmering during the planning department review of the request.

Waller called online posts alleging his pawn shop had sold “unregistered guns” to “convicted felons” as unfounded and untrue. Of Downes, he added: “What he is, is a non-profit guy who’s running a beer joint.”

Temperatures may be dropping outside, but see the heat rise in Royal Examiner’s video: