NORFOLK, Va. — Armed Forces Brewing Company is suing multiple people and groups, claiming they ran the company out of town.
The property where the company's Norfolk location used to be had been vacant for about a year as of May 2026. It begs the question, what will happen to the property and, perhaps more importantly, what do nearby businesses want to see to help develop the city's Railroad District?
"I think this place needs more retail, more restaurants, to make it a destination location," said Fishin' Pig owner Tom Fox.
Fox is not picky about what comes to the district.
"I just want more development," Fox said.
Aside from his barbecue restaurant, since Armed Forces Brewing Company closed in 2025 there had only been a taco restaurant and a coffee shop on that side of the tracks in the district. The area is heavily industrial.
Watch: Despite controversy, Armed Forces Brewing Company opens doors in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood
Fox said more development would help attract people to the area.
“We have to have word-of-mouth because we’re kind of a little bit off the beaten path," Fox explained.
News 3 reached out to the city’s economic development office to see what, if anything, was being done with the brewery property. According to the office, it's on the list of properties the city is marketing.
Watch: Armed Forces Brewing Co. accuses groups of defamation, threatens legal action
“I hope somebody buys it. The sooner the better," said Fox.
As News 3 has reported, Armed Forces Brewing Company opened the Norfolk location in 2024. The company and the brewery received a lot of backlash over comments a company executive made criticizing the Navy for using a drag queen to promote recruitment.
Watch: LGBT Life Center weighs in as Armed Forces Brewing Company announces move from Norfolk
The lawsuit, which the company announced in a news release Tuesday, names four people and two groups claiming they worked together to destroy the brewery.
In March 2025, the company's CEO announced the Norfolk location would be closing. He cited a "woke mob" as the reason.
Watch: As Armed Forces Brewing exits Norfolk, local shop sells out 'Local Woke Mob' candles
News 3 reached out to the company for comment but was referred to the company’s lawyer. News 3 did not get a response by the deadline for this story.
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