(Tony Brothers is a city of Norfolk all-around MVP. Photo by Joel Rubin.)
By Joel Rubin
“I have spent over thirty years in conflict resolution,” says Tony Brothers, arguably the most respected professional referee in the country. “When you are trying to keep peace on NBA courts with basketball’s highest paid and motivated coaches and players, you learn how to work with people.”
Lebron, Steph, Jayson, Pops and Kerr might agree. Tony, a graduate of Booker T. High and ODU who first fancied himself being a lawyer (“I was never a big basketball fan”) has refed 1,800 regular season and 200 playoff games since 1994, including the last 13 Finals. “I feel very fortunate to have the respect of the league and my peers,” says Brothers. But what he really yearns for is the patronage and eventually the votes of the citizens of his hometown. “I love Norfolk and want it to do well.”
He has invested heavily to make a name for himself off the court, opening a jazz club on Plume Street (during COVID) for two years, then through a series of complex lease negotiations with the city, taking over the MacArthur Center space Texas de Brazil deserted in the middle of the night in April 2022 (reportedly over downtown crime).
Now called simply “Brothers,” it has attracted celebs from Tony’s orbit to sample his entrees (i.e., steaks, trout almondine, lump crab cakes, grilled pork chop with apple chutney), extensive bourbon selection (“best in the area”) and enjoy some big names in music. “We’ve had Peabo Bryson and David Sanborn, Naji, Kim Waters, and many more want to come here.” (Mark down September 7 for Ruben Studdard.) Their autographed pictures, and those of political leaders (we see you Mark Warner) that have supped here, are on one wall. A colorful mural, painted by NSU art students and featuring Norfolk giants from Sweetpea and Bruce Smith to Paul Fraim and Pete Decker, adorns another.
On entertainment nights, jazz fans fill his nearly 200 seats, but there are too many empty ones on other evenings. “We need to do better as a city to attract and support excellent small businesses.” Which is why he is fine with us telling you the big news. “If Kenny Alexander wins this November and doesn’t seek (a fourth term) in 2028, I will retire from refereeing and run for that office.”
And though he cannot talk publicly about support he would receive from any Laker, Knick, Celtic, Spur or Clipper guard, forward or sixth man, assume (wink, wink) that many who have shared the hardwood with him will step up to encourage the citizens of Norfolk to support a man they admire and talk trash with every fall, winter, and spring with the world watching from the stands or on ABC/ESPN/TNT.
“I believe downtown in particular needs more restaurants, bakeries and dry cleaners to attract residents and visitors,” says Tony, whose wife, Kim (“she’s a genius”), children and stepchildren (and others) operate Brothers expertly when the namesake is calling blocking or traveling in MSG or the Garden. It takes leadership and charisma, which the 59-year-old Brothers, whose grandfather Myles Billups was a legend in the International Longshoremen’s Association locally and his late mother Dorothy, the highest-ranking black female during a storied career with Bank of America, has in ample supply. “I was shy as a boy, but right now, I’ll talk to anybody,” says Tony. But as mayor, he also wants to bring the region closer together (a WINDSday goal too). “I would love to see a huge multi-city music festival,” he proposes, “using all sorts of stages including mine here at Brothers.”
So if you have not sampled the shrimp, scallops, or savory sides at Tony and Kim’s MacArthur Center (“it’s still open everybody”) establishment, do it, and perhaps during the current off season when he often works the room, making sure you know his wine list and when the time’s right, his mayoral candidacy. Tony Brothers is one local personality who is coming home for good.
