Residents press council over late hours, parking and nuisance at Chop Up lounge

Attorney Eddie Pounds and town staff told the council they had supplied the Board of License Commissioners with written correspondence after receiving a resident complaint about the Chop Up lounge on Landover Road. Pounds said the licensing staff asked the town to submit an official written request; the town complied and the Board’s inspection staff will conduct surveillance and produce a report.

Residents from Ward 5 described impacts on nearby housing. Latanya Jones, an ethics commissioner for Ward 5, said parking overflow forces people to park on residential streets and that odor and public marijuana use have become a nuisance for families and children. "It's causing problems with the residents," she said. Sarada "Candy" Torres told the council the business had been open past posted hours — "They’re supposed to close at 11:30. Last night, we came back at 01:00 ... and they were wide open." Town Administrator Delaine Galloway confirmed multiple police calls and said the town will work with the licensing board and consider withdrawing support for the business if necessary.

Council agreed to add Chop Up to the Oct. 1 work session to discuss next steps and encouraged residents to submit specific incident details to aid the licensing board’s investigation.