BANGOR, Maine — If the City Council heeds a committee recommendation, downtown diners and drinkers will have two more hours to consume alcohol at outdoor tables.
The council’s business and economic development committee met Wednesday and voted 4-1 to approve changing a city ordinance enacted in 1991 that established a 10 p.m. outdoor drinking curfew. The new time, pending a council vote Monday night, would be midnight for patrons at downtown Bangor businesses.
“A lot of things have happened since that was enacted, primarily downtown, opening things up more for this type of adjustment,” said committee member and Councilor Nelson Durgin. “We have Penobscot Theater, Waterfront Concerts, outdoor movies, the Cool Sounds concerts and other things drawing people downtown, and 10 seems like a rather arbitrary time to tell people they have to either go inside or go home.”
Councilor Ben Sprague said this change would go hand in hand with the desire by the council and civic organizations to encourage further revitalization of downtown and West Market Square.
“Having a drink outside on a summer evening in downtown Bangor allows you to see the best of what Bangor has to offer, but there’s also a tipping point over the course of the evening where you can also start to see the worst Bangor has to offer,” said Sprague. “Personally, I think that tipping point occurs more around 1 or 2 a.m.”
To that end, Councilor Charlie Longo recommended instituting the change on a one-year trial basis and revisiting it next spring to see whether any changes are necessary. This was endorsed by the committee.
The curfew covers sidewalk space used by downtown restaurants and pubs. Eateries and drinking establishments that have their own outdoor decks or structures connected to their property or separated from the sidewalk already are exempt from the 10 p.m. curfew.
One thing that wouldn’t change is the requirement that patrons going from inside an establishment to the outside area, or vice versa, may not bring their drinks with them. State law requires wait staff members to bring the drinks to the patrons after they relocate.
Councilors Sprague, Durgin, Longo and James Gallant voted in favor of the change. Only Councilor Geoffrey Gratwick voted against it, saying that he preferred the change be instituted at a slower pace.
“The only main concern with this issue is anytime you get people outside, especially with alcohol, there are possibly going to be noise issues,” said Sprague. “That’s why we think the trial basis is a good idea.”
Another suggestion was to have a more pronounced police presence downtown, if possible.
“I’m not too concerned about the noise,” said Durgin. “We’re really only talking about it taking effect for five months out of the year. The noise issue is something we’ll just have to be careful about. More police is good, but merchants will also have to police themselves.”
The idea was brought to councilors by some of the downtown merchants.
“We weren’t expecting to vote on it that day, but it went through the committee rather quickly and there was general consensus on it.,” said Durgin.
” “I’m not too concerned about the noise,” said Durgin.”
Obviously Mr. Durgin does not live downtown.
If you live in the downtown of a city you should expect noise. If you are looking to live in a quite place there are plenty of nice neighborhoods in and around Bangor.
good stuff aero- a vibrant downtown and a quiet downtown don’t belong in the same sentence.
Sorry to throw you off balance, but I have been living downtown a lot longer than the obnoxiously loud bars have been here.
Whenever the Tavern got loud the cops would show up. The Whig was rarely loud and that was it.
I am curious if the West Market Square “Tavern wannabe’s” are paying rent on their “new” bar space. The city should be collecting from those encroaching on public park space. And since the city is advocating for larger bars, does this alter the bars liquor licenses – they are after all expanding their servicing space.
Or visit bars at 11 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this website filled with stories of people drinking ‘al fresco’ 24 hours a day in Bangor?
“Only Councilor Geoffrey Gratwick voted against it, saying that he preferred the change be instituted at a slower pace.”
Of course, Democrats are always voting for “a slower pace” when it comes to allowing business to grow.
I don’t much care for Gratwick yet your wrong about him not allowing business in Downtown Bangor to grow.. He supported the Bangor waterfront at the cost of 27 millon and the Bangor Arena for 70 millon. So he voted for almost 100 millon in corporate welfare for the downtown Bangor businesses. Where else has the city invested 100 millon in an area??
The only rule that trumps dems slowing business is spending others monies.
I don’t even live in Bangor and I don’t see how this can be a good idea….
why is this not a good idea?
Bangor needs more drunks drinking on the streets in downtown Bangor… Why aren’t there more OUI arrest in Bangor with so many pub/bars in Bangor are filled until closing time.. I’m pretty sure they all didn’t stop at one drink, Bars and pubs make a living selling as much booze as possible.
Ya dont get out much do ya? If you did you would realize that most of those bars and pubs are struggling to stay open because of a lack of patrons and people that go out because of the risk of getting that very OUI that you speak of. Other than Barnaby’s there are very few bars full at or near midnight or closing time.
Not to mention that you can WALK to and from bars in downtown. Pedestrian-friendly center cities are making a comeback all over the country — a trend we ought to encourage locally.
It’s not against the law to have a blood count above .08, you just can’t drive. That is why we have Taxis in Bangor.
The “tipping” point mentioned refers to 1am to 2am when the “worst” starts to happen…..allowing folks to drink until midnight in these establishments will move the “tipping” point up to about 00:15 hrs. when these patrons get in their vehicles to drive home…..
These cars are easy to locate – just look for the scratches around the door locks.
The only difference between the bars in downtown Bangor from the 70’s and 80″ s and today is today the drunks dress better which make everything OK. Good Place to meet you future mate, drunk at a bar, that will work out just fine. (-;
I’m not sure that I can name the city council members who are in the pocket of the downtown bars, but I’m getting closer.
Today the city dug up and relocated a piece of sculpture downtown that was far more advanced and thought out than the cheesy, ubiquitous, fiberglass & fingerpaint Paul Bunyan statue that exists in every lumber town North of the Equator, and somehow got planted on Main Street in Bangor (I wasn’t aware that 3rd grade artists received commissions. Great. )
Downtown Bangor has become a study in the debate around form versus function. The Paul Bunyan finger paint art looks like my 3rd graders art project planted in the middle of two $100 Million developments. The soon to be relocated whirly-thing from downtown will look like junk 1980’s planted on yesterdays $50 Million downtown waterfront revitalization. The City can’t identify a single developer to invest in the waterfront, so it’s become a dumping ground for the pop art of yester-year.
Paul Bunyan has become a tourist attraction, and a wonderful way to greet the visitors who come into our city. Paul represents where we came from. That statue is actually pretty neat. People who come here from away love to take photos with it. It is better than most Paul Bunyan statues. It is also much bigger than most. So why would we ever move Paul. He is best where he has always been, because that is the gateway to our city.
Ever notice how Pauls eyes follow you as you drive down Main St? Freaky.
Paul’s deranged eyes…
Paul’s finger-painted eyes
I have always
preferred Paul to the sculpture that was moved. I guarantee you more people
come to see Paul; in fact, I doubt anyone comes to Bangor for the purpose of
looking at that sculpture. Frankly I remember when it was put in and have
always thought that someone was laughing all the way to the bank on that one.
Townie bars putting
more drunks in chairs? I refer to that as people making the choice to go to a
downtown Bangor business. You make it sound like the bars are keelhauling
people! I think it is a great idea, and I doubt there are very many people
making the decision to go to a bar solely based on the fact they can sit
outside on a nice night, that just enhances the experience! Seadog might
disagree when they lose their exclusiveness though.
Move to Yellowstone!
Great balance to the City Council. They work everyday towards a vibrant downtown and waterfront. Thanks goes to them..
Studies show that the rate of drinking in Bangor has increased recently as citizens try to cope with the actions of the present City Council……..
Freedom of choice. Downtown Bangor needs to experience a come back and attract. Lots of folks get caught up in the entertainemnt and conversations when having a good time. Every major city has The Downtown Entertainment as a draw. Bangor has been without this for a long time. Some folks must remember The Belmont Hotel, The Paramount Hotel, The Silver Dollar, Queen City Diner, Brass Rail, The Canteen, Bunny’s. The Oasis’s, The Waverly, Blocheei’s even Oscar’s Rest and Peters Rest. I left off all the ones on Hancock Street which made Bangor. In the 50’s and 60’s, it was a place to be, to have FUN. Of course, it was always a choice. To involve yourself or stay home and watch the telly. Back to our basic right for freedom of choice. Downtown is downtown, and should be a metro for fun and entertainemnt. To roll up the sidewalks and send folks home or force them to plan their evening based upon the clock, is wrong. Lots of folks work the 2nd shift and they get off at 10pm so it really not a fair shake and its not good for the overall business enviroment.
The silver dollar was way down Exchange St where all the drunks were, in all those cheap bars.The Brass Rail was a very nice restaurant at the other end of Exchange St. The Turn in Hermon was a good place too, had a nice band.
Gotta love the headline “Bangor Recommends” longer outside intoxication hours.
Sounds to me like they are fishing for tax dollars to pay for the new court house, police department and civic center, maybe secret raises via oui’s, public intoxication, sales tax and permit fees.
There is no question this is a good idea….to be honest I can hardly believe there was still an ordinance…..Bangor is starting to “get with it” and that is what Maine needs is more people who “get it”….As was mentioned in a comment before, there are plenty of quiet neighborhoods in Bangor to live in….we need business, we need the revitalization of downtown Bangor and all this development is great for our future and the future of our little ones who will hopefully stay closer to home the more we have to offer!
This brings to mind the times I have visited the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in Canada during the summer. In every town we visited, the night life outside in the downtown areas was alive with cafes offering outside seating, and quite often entertainment, too. The tables were all up and down the sidewalks. The atmosphere was always peaceful and serene – people eating, having cocktails and socializing until late into the evening. We never encountered rowdy situations. People just seemed to be happy to enjoy the warm weather while it lasted – given their short summers. I like living in Bangor because I like being close to the stores, but downtown Bangor at night could be so much more – for patrons and for businesses.
I would not worry too much about the paying customers making problems-any security needed would be to keep the riff raff from scaring the patrons away.
All downtown Pubs and Eateries should have a $2 a drink/beer tax to help pay for all the projects done for the downtown and main street businesses…. along with $5 per ticket tax at the concerts to help feed and clothe the poor and disadvantaged children in the Bangor Area. 100 millon dollars spent on the downtown area and nothing for hungry kids. shame on you Bangor.. go have your beer
With the Police Chief lamenting being 7-9 sworn patrol officers short, it seems like a bad time to be expanding the hours of alcohol consumtion on the streets. The State has abdicated its responsibility for liquor enforcement so no help there. I came through town last night at 10 and there was a guy staggering up the yellow line by Westmarket Sq., with two girls tryng to coax him out of the road, and no Police Offcer in sight. If you listen to a scanner the volume of calls is huge compared to 20 years ago and, with the Officers using cell phones and laptops much of the dispatching nevr goes out over the radio. This Council seems to have a tenuous grip on reality being so shrouded in the fog of petty politics.
where is that hunk of stainless steel anyway?
Just think Bangor if you close the street, you could get another 100 tables out there. Now we see where your going with this..
Okay Maine adult kids you have 2 more hours to drink just for being good!
Sincerely
Bigbrother