The business would offer Internet access and sell several retail items, including cell phones and phone cards.
Some of the cards have a sweepstakes attached. Customers then either swipe the sweepstakes card to find out if they won or use it as tokens to play computer games. The sweepstakes results are predetermined.
Heather Whitmore, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, recommended approving the permit because the city has no legal reason to oppose it.
“We have no statistical evidence or data to support that it would be harmful,” Whitmore said.
Similar businesses, including Internet skill-based game rooms, are popping up across Ohio. At least one other is currently open in Springfield, Whitmore said, and a similar business also operated on Upper Valley Pike a few years ago before closing.
Haning operates several Internet cafes in Ohio and said he abides by all laws. He hasn’t had any security problems at them.
“It’s all done very professionally,” he said.
The cafe, which anticipates opening July 15, also is filling about 6,000 square feet of vacant space and is helping to attract other businesses to the shopping center, said Richard Potasky, a real estate agent representing the center.
Several board members agreed, citing that as a reason to approve the permit.
“We need some tenants out there certainly,” board member Connie Rhoads said.
Court cases concerning similar types of businesses are pending, including at the state supreme court. Depending on the outcome of those cases, Whitmore said the city might consider updating its codes.
Another business, Spinners on East Main Street, has closed. Springfield police recently served search warrants on the operators, confiscating several computers. Police Chief Stephen Moody couldn’t be reached Monday for comment.
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