Video: Columbus Business Owners Fight New Ordinance

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Some Columbus convenience store owners continue to fight a new city ordinance limiting their hours.

The ordinance – which went into effect Tuesday – says certain stores selling beer and light wine in family residential areas will have to close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

City leaders approved the ordinance last month, after some residents complained about loitering and crime.

Several store owners were at Tuesday night’s meeting, asking councilmen to add an additional hour to their daily operation. That was shot down.

Store owners say these new rules will cause them to lose money, and they feel they’re being targeted.

“You can’t even support that justly because the police come near a store as the reason why you won’t regulate its hours,” said Kamal Karriem, Political Action for Mississippi.

“We’re trying to make a living like everybody else, and we’re being targeted, so I don’t think I’m happy, and neither are the people around here, none of them are happy,” said Zakariya, a store owner.

After Tuesday’s meeting, store owners say they’ll regroup, and discuss how to move forward.