Otis says Molly's is being shut down for a code violation involving the building being 2 feet too close to the street. This is laughable, since the building clearly predated the ordinance, which was later revealed when they used the historical building exception. No such ordinance could be enforced after the fact. Under the legal doctrine of ex post facto, the ordinance would be retrospective- meaning it would apply to buildings constructed before the date the ordinance was enacted. Ex post facto laws are illegal under the US Constitution's Article 1 Section 10. While this specifically applies to criminal laws, the principle is the same and even if pushed to the limit, a court would not make a property owner relocate an old building of that size 2 feet due to the financial hardship it would place on the owner. In the specific case, the city would not pursue it because of the negative press it would generate against a small business owned by local heroes.