It has been 6 or 7 years since (then) Councilperson Suzanne Jenkins proposed this idea. At the time it was gathering support until Sheriff Rutherford said he didn't think it was a good idea. Then it was dropped.
My question I suppose is this:
Given the lack of things to do and no real 'draw' or reason to go Downtown at night, what if this became the 'draw' or the 'reason'?
The ad could say Downtown (open late), etc.
You never will know if you don't try right?
Might be the catalyst to get the ball rolling Downtown.
(In an effort to be transparent here I do operate Mark's and Dive Bar so I would benefit from this law change were it to happen.)
Anyway, what does everyone think?
Thanks, Mark
Quote from: marksjax on April 27, 2012, 06:20:37 PM
It has been 6 or 7 years since (then) Councilperson Suzanne Jenkins proposed this idea. At the time it was gathering support until Sheriff Rutherford said he didn't think it was a good idea. Then it was dropped.
My question I suppose is this:
Given the lack of things to do and no real 'draw' or reason to go Downtown at night, what if this became the 'draw' or the 'reason'?
The ad could say Downtown (open late), etc.
You never will know if you don't try right?
Might be the catalyst to get the ball rolling Downtown.
(In an effort to be transparent here I do operate Mark's and Dive Bar so I would benefit from this law change were it to happen.)
Anyway, what does everyone think?
Thanks, Mark
Although I generally oppose the idea of laws dictating when you can drink (or buy alcohol, to be more accurate), I think this is a terrible idea.
The last thing Jacksonville, a city with practically non-existent mass transit, needs is people sitting around and getting even more drunk and driving home. Especially since barely anyone lives downtown - so they'll all (or most of them) have to drive a decent distance to get home.
Jax needs to come up with more options than just getting drunk.
Quote from: marksjax on April 27, 2012, 06:20:37 PM
It has been 6 or 7 years since (then) Councilperson Suzanne Jenkins proposed this idea. At the time it was gathering support until Sheriff Rutherford said he didn't think it was a good idea. Then it was dropped.
My question I suppose is this:
Given the lack of things to do and no real 'draw' or reason to go Downtown at night, what if this became the 'draw' or the 'reason'?
The ad could say Downtown (open late), etc.
You never will know if you don't try right?
Might be the catalyst to get the ball rolling Downtown.
(In an effort to be transparent here I do operate Mark's and Dive Bar so I would benefit from this law change were it to happen.)
Anyway, what does everyone think?
Thanks, Mark
Good luck, man. City leaders hate downtown and will do what they can to keep it from coming alive.
I can tell you that 4:00 a.m. is even later than most cities aside from a relative few, like Miami. Atlanta used to be 4:00 or 6:00 or something ridiculous and laws were passed in the past decade bringing that to 3:00. Any areas open later or "after hours clubs" (some of which are blatantly illegal) are big big hits. People like to party, and people like places they can party. I know some people (won't pin myself in this category heh) party until sunrise whenever they are in Miami because it is such a novel experience in the US.
Last cal in Memphis is 5am.
Bars close in Charleston around 2 a.m. Last call is around 12:30-1:00.
Quote from: Adam W on April 27, 2012, 06:32:44 PM
Quote from: marksjax on April 27, 2012, 06:20:37 PM
It has been 6 or 7 years since (then) Councilperson Suzanne Jenkins proposed this idea. At the time it was gathering support until Sheriff Rutherford said he didn't think it was a good idea. Then it was dropped.
My question I suppose is this:
Given the lack of things to do and no real 'draw' or reason to go Downtown at night, what if this became the 'draw' or the 'reason'?
The ad could say Downtown (open late), etc.
You never will know if you don't try right?
Might be the catalyst to get the ball rolling Downtown.
(In an effort to be transparent here I do operate Mark's and Dive Bar so I would benefit from this law change were it to happen.)
Anyway, what does everyone think?
Thanks, Mark
Although I generally oppose the idea of laws dictating when you can drink (or buy alcohol, to be more accurate), I think this is a terrible idea.
The last thing Jacksonville, a city with practically non-existent mass transit, needs is people sitting around and getting even more drunk and driving home. Especially since barely anyone lives downtown - so they'll all (or most of them) have to drive a decent distance to get home.
I paid extra so my car was delivered with a SOCO dispenser and AUTOPILOT.
Mark,
You may eventually get your wish with the reorg and the expanded Entertainment District as events could fall into a catagory that could not only benefit you but other zones as this experimental programming of creating so many activities develops. You take out the city council.
Personally if you push it to 3am Downtown then let SJTC do the same. Same for San Marco, Riverside, etc.
Here I go again but with the loop being done to bring the riverwalk up to Bay St. last week I was forced because of safety concerns that developed to use the empty marina at Berkman Plaza-Plaza at Berkman to get out of my kayak right there just so close from your place of business. The only two legal options were River City Brewing and the City marina at Metropolitan Park.
So fortunately I didn't get cited for trespassing but while I'm getting ready to climb over the no trespassing signs I'm just looking at the first 25' or 50' of the Shipyards/Landmar pier and just thinking of how often not only myself but how many other patrons would immediately be able to benefit from your establishment if it was open to the Public. Because I was right there I loaded my kayak and went over and had a nice cold one at your place.
Hey Berkman Plaza-Plaza at Berkman-Wake UP
Berkman'ers you were there asking Ron Barton about the pier as part of our Downtown Action Plan. Where are you now?
Mark,
This may not be the answer to the 3 or 4 am last call. I may be selfish but if I want to Make a Scene doing a Downtown Destination River Activity then I can't think of a better place to finish just blocks from your establishment then take it in to Mark's for a cold one then kick somebody's butt in darts.
John, Thanks and you bring up a good point. The lack of river access on the north bank is also a detriment to Downtown's awakening. I guess the City Council and Councilperson Don Redmond in particular (Scott too) must not see it as part of the puzzle. Why not open the pier? Is it unsafe? What is the reason?
I won't hold my breath for 3 or 4 am to happen. But to clarify, the original intent of the proposed time change was to give the new fledgling bars a fighting chance. And by limiting the area affected (and keeping the location concentrated) it would have incentivized other, perhaps bigger players, to come Downtown and join the party. Ms. Jenkins knew the potential for success was slim and this 'leg up" was seen as leveling the playing field somewhat.
I may be wrong on my dates but before we opened in 2006 it had been 25 years since there was a liquor bar on East Bay Street. So, what she proposed was to give the 'pioneers' a little extra help in exchange for their extra risk of the Downtown location.
Remember, this is also right after the Super Bowl when everyone was sure Downtown was going to take off in a big way. That the time change did not happen is perhaps one reason that Downtown has not lived up to the hype that was being bantered around at that time.
Anyone been to Collins Ave in Miami Beach at 3:00 am? ;)
Just out of curiosity, how late is TSI open? They always seem to have a crowd still way past 2am. I think having clubs open later Downtown is a great idea personally. Couple that with having some of the dining establishments adding some late night hours, that would be a great combination.
^TSI is open routinely until 3 a.m. They just can't serve drinks past 2, like everywhere else. As of a few years ago when I cared to stay out until 3 a.m. there were several places around town that stayed open.
I've always supported changing the regulation for alcohol hours downtown, as it would certainly encourage more places to open up there, and encourage existing places to stay open later. However, the safety and DUI concerns from the police are fair points, though a lot of that would work itself out with better transit options (and more vibrancy downtown). I would certainly not want to see bars open that late all over the city, especially in car-centric places like the mall. As simms said, closing times after 2 a.m. are pretty late anywhere in the country.
Why not just sell buckets or bottles just before 2AM and let the people hang out until they're done. You could easily stay open another hour or two.
I've always hated being run out of a place right at last call. Never understood how an eztablishment could do that to their customers who likely just spent quite a bit of coin. Just keep the music playing and let everyone sober up for an hour before herding them out the door.
I wasn't aware of the consumption after two portion of the law. I've always understood the law to disallow sales after two.
That does explain why things are the way they are. Still sad we can't figure out a way to lock the the taps and the coolers by 2:00 and still allow the patrons some more time on the dance floor. The majority that are out partying are not getting shit-faced and causing trouble.