(Danville, VA) John Hale the former owner of Brewed awakenings has been ordered to pay restitution to the City of Danville after a sentencing hearing last Friday.  Danville Circuit Court Judge Joe Milam sentenced Hale to 12 months in jail and ordered fees of $2993 paid to the city, but suspended the jail time.

The sentence stems from the business’s abrupt closure back in January of 2018 and the cleaning out of the building with no notice.  The equipment used in the now defunct coffee shop was sold improperly to Busy Bee Coffee Company in Yanceyville.  Hale had an agreement in place with the Danville Industrial Development Authority as part of a grant that included the equipment.

 

Hale cited the closure of the business being due to the streetscape project that had been ongoing for several years in different phases, and the sidewalk in front of the business was torn up just after they opened their doors to the public.

 

The city took legal action after they learned of the sale of equipment and furnishings.  City Manager Ken Larking said they were left with no choice and it wasn’t how they wanted things to happen.  The city put the lien in place to protect their investment in the property.