Wildwood Vote Likely July 28 On 24-Hour Bars

WILDWOOD — Will bars in this city have closing times?
On Wed., July 28, City Commissioners will consider a measure that would allow bars, clubs and restaurants in Wildwood to serve alcohol 24 hours a day during the tourist season.
Local bar owners have requested the change, noting that the economic downturn has been particularly hard on their industry.
Currently, the local ordinance requires that licensed establishments make last call for alcohol at 3 a.m. and have revelers out the doors and on the street by 3:30 a.m. Bars cannot reopen again until 7 a.m.
When a change was first considered over a month ago, it was to be an hour extension to 4 a.m., but city officials and bar owners agreed that the extra 60 minutes of sales wouldn’t help struggling businesses enough. It would also have all bars breaking at the same time and leaving city police to deal with the disappointed patrons on the streets.
The governing body held a special meeting on the proposed change on July 7, when they decided to abandon the 4 a.m. close and go for no close at all.
Dozens of bar owners and city residents spoke during the public comment portion of the public hearing with opposite opinions on the subject, but both groups agreed that the mass exodus of bar patrons, whether at 3 or 4 a.m., caused quality-of-life issues, particularly in neighborhoods around the Pacific Avenue business district. Proponents of the 24-hour change believe it would eliminate the bar break issues.
Bar owners noted that business has been on a decline since city voters changed closing time from 5 a.m. to 3 a.m. in a 1997 referendum.
After hearing comments, Mayor Gary DeMarzo and Commissioner Ed Harshaw voted to introduce the 24-hour ordinance change. Commissioner Al Brannen, who has been opposed to the extended closing times, voted against the amended ordinance.
Brannen has suggested bar owners try holding afternoon “jam sessions” or other specials to increase business.
Commissioners will hold a public meeting on the measure tonight at 6:30 p.m. Wildwood residents are asked to attend to voice opinions on the subject.
If a recent Herald online poll is any indication, a majority of residents don’t favor the change.
“Should Wildwood allow bars and clubs to stay open 24 hours a day?” the Herald asked online readers. Of 58 votes, 36 (or 62 percent) voters said Wildwood should not allow 24-hour alcohol service and 22 (38 percent) said it should.