BILLY SHIELDS: If you look around the Staples Mill Shopping Center, it isn’t hard to find vacant storefronts.

The signs are everywhere in this aging Henrico Mall, but this storefront may about to get a new tenant.

ANGEL SANTOYO: I feel like any casino here in Richmond community we need it for any grand attraction will be great for us.

You know?

It will be great for the community it'll be great just to bring something new.

New money in, you know, just do it like that.

So, I feel like it'll be a positive thing more than a negative that people say.

BILLY SHIELDS: Last month, Rosie's Gaming Emporium applied to the county for a variance that would allow them to occupy the former site of the Surplus Furniture & Mattress store.

But others are not happy about it.

BEN MORGAN: We would rather not have the gambling in the area.

It's just not something that, you know, that we think is going to be good for the area or the neighborhood.

It's usually not a positive thing for anybody, but the person who owns the gambling facilities.

BILLY SHIELDS: The situation at Staples Mill also has lawmakers up in arms saying Rosie's filed its variance application just before rules kicked in, requiring public hearings.

LASHRECSE AIRD: I think what we’re saying is we want to have citizen input.

It's less about our positions on the matter or being opposed to Rosie's or Colonial Downs.

But it's more about we are representatives of the people, let our people be the ones to be able to weigh in on this.

BILLY SHIELDS: Some still see a strong business case to be made.

ANGEL SANTOYO: Perfect size, perfect space.

Perfect parking.

Yeah, they have the right idea.

Yeah, right traffic flow.

BILLY SHIELDS: Others want to talk it over before the mall gets a new tenant.

BEN MORGAN: I just feel like it's one of those things.

It's not worth the price and there's always a lot of promises about it.

BILLY SHIELDS: For now, it's up to supervisors in Henrico to decide.

Billy Shields, VPM News.