KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – The City of Keene’s Zoning Board approved a variance this week that could end up displacing some local businesses.

The Revo Casino, Keene’s only charitable gaming facility, is looking to move from its Emerald Street location to the plaza on Key Road that is currently home to businesses such as Toy City and the Keene Cinemas.

At its meeting Tuesday the board approved a waiver that clears the way for the casino to occupy the building, purchased last year by Manchester developer Dick Anagnost. Anagnost, who owns the casino with his son, told the board the plaza’s proximity to hotels and major roadways makes it an attractive location. He said the relocation could happen within 12 to 18 months and would allow for future expansion.

The waiver was required because the City of Keene recently adopted an ordinance that, among other things, requires casinos to be at least 250 feet from residential properties. Brookbend West, an affordable housing complex owned by Keene Housing, is just 170 feet away. Board members weighed that distance carefully. Anagnost emphasized, however, that the casino entrance does not face the apartments and activity at the rear of the building would remain minimal.

Steve Levy, owner of Toy City, a long-standing popular toy store in the city, tells WKBK he hasn’t heard from Anagnost, his landlord, and he heard the news for the first time on the radio.

“I delved a little deeper into it to find out that the zoning board was going to hear about a waiver for the current landlord to move his casino from where it is in town to our shopping center. Then I said to myself ‘I wonder if that’s going to be me’ and then I found out that it might be me — who else would it be?” Levy said. “I have not heard anything from the current landlord, so I’m business as usual until I hear anything.”

Levy said his current lease expires in 2027 with an option for a five-year extension. He said he’s been mulling over his options and noted that he would like the business to stay in Keene, and he does not like the idea of moving.

“Really there’s three options, as I can see it: you close, you move, or you sell the business, and whoever buys the business moves,” Levy said. “But I still love the job so I would like to stick around, and I would like to keep Toy City going in Keene, so it’s just a matter of do I move or do I close?”.

Levy will join WKBK’s Good Morning program at 6:10 a.m. Friday to further discuss the issue. He also noted that this happened very quickly, so he does not have any ill-will toward his landlord for not speaking to him about the issue yet.