"Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to city officials in Honolulu, Hawaii, calling on them to change a city ordinance that’s driving several popular restaurants in Honolulu’s Waikiki District out of business.
One of those restaurants is EbiNomi, which was opened by Stewart Chung and his brother Andy. The brothers opened the restaurant just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. The restaurant’s comfort-style cuisine helped it survive the pandemic, but EbiNomi is now weeks away from closing due to a city ban on portable signs. Since opening, Stewart has relied on a small A-frame sign (also known as a menu board sign) to help guide customers to his restaurant, which is tucked away in a private courtyard, nearly invisible to pedestrians from the street.
However, last September a city inspector told Stewart he could no longer use his sign because Honolulu bans certain businesses from using portable signs, even if they’re on private property near sidewalks."
"In a letter to Honolulu city leaders, IJ warned that Honolulu’s ban is almost certainly unconstitutional."
