Virginia Beach Oceanfront curfew raises concerns for local businesses

Temporary emergency curfew in effect for three nights along the Oceanfront

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:20pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police barricade or traffic cone against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh camera flash, conceptually representing the stark, gritty, and investigative nature of the curfew enforcement.As concerns over public safety rise, the temporary curfew at Virginia Beach's Oceanfront aims to curb violence, but at a potential cost to local businesses.Virginia Beach Today

A temporary emergency curfew has been implemented in Virginia Beach's Oceanfront area from Rupee Circle to 31st Street along Atlantic and Pacific Avenues, taking effect from 9:30 p.m. on April 17, 18, and 24. The curfew, aimed at addressing a spike in violence, has raised concerns among local businesses about the impact on their operations and customer traffic during the lucrative late-night hours.

Why it matters

The Oceanfront is a crucial economic hub for Virginia Beach, with many businesses relying on late-night foot traffic and spending. The curfew could significantly disrupt these businesses' operations and revenue during a key time of year, potentially leading to financial hardship and job losses.

The details

The curfew applies to everyone, regardless of age, and was implemented by the Virginia Beach Police Department and Mayor Bobby Dyer in response to recent shootings in the area. Even with increased patrols, the city has seen a spike in violence during this time of year, prompting the temporary measure. Local residents and visitors have expressed concerns about the impact on businesses, particularly restaurants and bars that rely on late-night crowds.

  • The curfew will be in effect from 9:30 p.m. on April 17, 18, and 24.
  • The original curfew proposal included Saturday, April 25, but the city removed that date and pushed the curfew back to 9:30 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.

The players

Paul Neudigate

Virginia Beach Police Chief, who stated that even with increased patrols, two shootings had happened at the Oceanfront.

Bobby Dyer

Mayor of Virginia Beach, who said that this time of year tends to see a spike in violence.

Cooper Lamkin

A local resident who expressed concerns about the impact of the curfew on businesses, particularly restaurants and bars.

Riley Sorrells

A local resident who noted that the curfew would impact the late-night crowds and spending that many businesses rely on.

Salena Flores

A local resident who felt the curfew could help make the Oceanfront feel safer for the community.

Kenya Flores

Salena Flores' cousin, who wondered how the curfew would impact tourists who are unaware of the local regulations.

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What they’re saying

“If I was a restaurant right now, I would be totally against this. The bars, I know people that don't even go out til 10 o'clock at night. That's a lot of their money going down.”

— Cooper Lamkin

“They come in after nine o'clock you know. That's where a lot of people are spending their money, so it's tough. People are going to be missing out and hourly wages, hourly workers can't work as long as they normally do.”

— Riley Sorrells

“I feel like there has been a reputation of not going to the Oceanfront at this time, so I feel like it is kind of nice that they are doing something to make locals feel better about the Oceanfront and bring a safer community for all of us.”

— Salena Flores

“I don't know that I would be like, 'Oh, let me look at the Virginia Beach local news and see what's up. I am going to go chill, go out and grab drinks,' and then boom, actually wait, you can't. Here are the cops saying you can't do that. Go back to your hotel, that's tough.”

— Kenya Flores

What’s next

The city will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate the effectiveness of the curfew in addressing the spike in violence at the Oceanfront. Businesses and residents will be closely watching the impact on the local economy and community.

The takeaway

The Virginia Beach Oceanfront curfew highlights the delicate balance between public safety and the economic well-being of local businesses. While the measure aims to curb a rise in violence, it raises concerns about the potential financial hardship for restaurants, bars, and other establishments that rely on late-night foot traffic and spending. The city will need to carefully weigh these competing interests as it navigates this temporary solution.