Downtown GR as POST 2:00 A.M. Activity Zone

[metrogrkid]

Downtown GR as Regional Zone for POST 2:00 A.M. Dancing & Entertainment

-establish downtown GR as the only zone between Chicago and Detroit where dancing and entertainment continue until 6:00 a.m. but liquor sales stop at 2:00 a.m.

-remove archaic city code that prevents dancing in downtown GR after 2:00 a.m.

Advantages for Downtown GR

-only zone between Chicago and Detroit (two hour drive radius) where dancing and entertainment continue until 6:00 a.m.

-promotes after-entertainment sobriety by allowing inebriated patrons to dance-off the liquor by sweating it out of their pores prior to leaving the entertainment venue.

-puts downtown GR and DeVos Place on a more even footing with competing convention cities that are perceived as "more exciting" in regard to entertainment availability.

-assists GR with distancing itself from its damaging images as "Bland Rapids", "Grand Boredom" and "Hooterville".

-assists downtown bar and entertainment venue owners by allowing them to continue generating revenue from post-2:00 a.m. food sales and cover charges.

-isolates late-night entertainment to occur only within the boundaries of downtown GR (maintains small-town character in the parts of the city and metro area that exist outside of downtown).

-establishes downtown GR as a magnet for world-class entertainment businesses that would want to be a part of such a lucrative and new urban entertainment atmosphere.

(NOTE: concept discussed with and forwarded to GR City Business Advocate on 5/24/05 by MBEI President for forwarding to appropriate recipients for consideration)

[peaceloveunderstanding]

promotes after-entertainment sobriety by allowing inebriated patrons to dance-off the liquor by sweating it out of their pores prior to leaving the entertainment venue.

er, hehehe.

[twoshort]

promotes after-entertainment sobriety by allowing inebriated patrons to dance-off the liquor by sweating it out of their pores prior to leaving the entertainment venue.

er, hehehe.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wasn't there a place like this in GR last year or something? People didn't like it 'cause it killed their buzz.. haha.

[PBJ]

Although after hours clubs are a great idea, I think (from working downtown at a club) that a better solution is this:

Many people who come from Detroit, Chicago, Big Cities are used to a different nightlife experience. Grand Rapids, people are out drinking at like 9-10pm, by 2 am people are smashed and venture home. Visit any other major city (chicago, san fran. etc), the bars are open much later (3am and 4am) and usually open much later as well. People from large cities find the fact that we go out at 9 crazy, as they're used to the 11/12 pm to 3/4am life. Although I think later closing times is a great idea, the fact of the matter is you're going to have a VERY hard time promoting a place to go at 2am that serves pop/coffee/water after people have been out boozing for 4 or 5 hours (not sure if that's what you meant or not, but it sounded like it).

I think it'd take both a miracle of changing the cities liquor licensing controls and a cultural shift in the "night owls" who venture out at night. Although if a "good club" was open from 11pm to 4am it might naturally shift how and when people go out.

[metrogrkid]

Although after hours clubs are a great idea, I think (from working downtown at a club) that a better solution is this:

Many people who come from Detroit, Chicago, Big Cities are used to a different nightlife experience.  Grand Rapids, people are out drinking at like 9-10pm, by 2 am people are smashed and venture home.  Visit any other major city (chicago, san fran. etc), the bars are open much later (3am and 4am) and usually open much later as well.  People from large cities find the fact that we go out at 9 crazy, as they're used to the 11/12 pm to 3/4am life.  Although I think later closing times is a great idea, the fact of the matter is you're going to have a VERY hard time promoting a place to go at 2am that serves pop/coffee/water after people have been out boozing for 4 or 5 hours (not sure if that's what you meant or not, but it sounded like it).

I think it'd take both a miracle of changing the cities liquor licensing controls and a cultural shift in the "night owls" who venture out at night.  Although if a "good club" was open from 11pm to 4am it might naturally shift how and when people go out.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The crux of the proposal that most people always miss is that THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO DANCE FAR AFTER 2:00 am. If downtown GR venues are the only ones left open after 2a with sounds pumping and dancefloors gyrating, venues will STILL be able to charge a cover to these night owls (even without serving liquor - at that point, if you're not buzzed, knowing that you only had 'til 2a, then you didn't need to be buzzed anyway). Those not willing to pay can go home and have their evenings curtailed early. It's about availing people and potential users of downtown with OPTIONS. The more options an urban area has the more successful it is. The more it caters to only one or a few narrow mindsets, the less successful it is (POINT IN CASE: US!!!! METRO GRAND RAPIDS!!!)

[twoshort]

The crux of the proposal that most people always miss is that THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO DANCE FAR AFTER 2:00 am.  If downtown GR venues are the only ones left open after 2a with sounds pumping and dancefloors gyrating, venues will STILL be able to charge a cover to these night owls (even without serving liquor - at that point, if you're not buzzed, knowing that you only had 'til 2a, then you didn't need to be buzzed anyway).  Those not willing to pay can go home and have their evenings curtailed early.  It's about availing people and potential users of downtown with OPTIONS.  The more options an urban area has the more successful it is.  The more it caters to only one or a few narrow mindsets, the less successful it is (POINT IN CASE:  US!!!!  METRO GRAND RAPIDS!!!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you done a study to see if there is any interest for changing the rules, that is, beyond your own interest?

[GRCentro]

The nightlife in the U.S. just seems funny to me after having lived in South America. There it is social suicide to be in a bar before midnight and the dance clubs won't even open until 2 AM. On a good night there is dancing until 7 or even 8 AM. Of course, the overwhelming majority walk or use taxis so drunk driving is much less of a problem.

I'm all for later hours, but I'm not sure it would be culturally plausible here. However, if business owners would have enough demand to profit from a later schedule, the option should, at the very least, be available to them.

A 24 hour downtown? Now, that'd be cool.

Grand Rapids, people are out drinking at like 9-10pm, by 2 am people are smashed and venture home. Visit any other major city (chicago, san fran. etc), the bars are open much later (3am and 4am) and usually open much later as well. People from large cities find the fact that we go out at 9 crazy, as they're used to the 11/12 pm to 3/4am life.

[joeDowntown]

I like it! I think the law is archaic as well. The problem will be getting people to understand that dancing and drinking don't always go hand in hand. If nothing else, they should allow bars to stay open past two just so they don't guzzle liquor at last call and then get their butts kicked out on the street at 2:00am sharp.

It'll be an uphill battle, but I am all for it!

Joe

Downtown GR as Regional Zone for POST 2:00 A.M. Dancing & Entertainment

-establish downtown GR as the only zone between Chicago and Detroit where dancing and entertainment continue until 6:00 a.m. but liquor sales stop at 2:00 a.m.

-remove archaic city code that prevents dancing in downtown GR after 2:00 a.m.

Advantages for Downtown GR

-only zone between Chicago and Detroit (two hour drive radius) where dancing and entertainment continue until 6:00 a.m.

-promotes after-entertainment sobriety by allowing inebriated patrons to dance-off the liquor by sweating it out of their pores prior to leaving the entertainment venue.

-puts downtown GR and DeVos Place on a more even footing with competing convention cities that are perceived as "more exciting" in regard to entertainment availability.

-assists GR with distancing itself from its damaging images as "Bland Rapids", "Grand Boredom" and "Hooterville".

-assists downtown bar and entertainment venue owners by allowing them to continue generating revenue from post-2:00 a.m. food sales and cover charges.

-isolates late-night entertainment to occur only within the boundaries of downtown GR (maintains small-town character in the parts of the city and metro area that exist outside of downtown).

-establishes downtown GR as a magnet for world-class entertainment businesses that would want to be a part of such a lucrative and new urban entertainment atmosphere.

(NOTE:  concept discussed with and forwarded to GR City Business Advocate on 5/24/05 by MBEI President for forwarding to appropriate recipients for consideration)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>