Closing Time To Come An Hour Earlier For Brookhaven Bars
Late night establishments in Brookhaven will have to start closing at 2 a.m. instead of 3 a.m.
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A night out at bars and clubs in Brookhaven could start ending an hour earlier.
Late night establishments will have to start closing at 2 a.m. instead of 3 a.m.
Ann Marie Quill, who is with the city, said it was public safety decision.
“Really it’s just all about diminishing the crime during these hours,” she said. “And we want to be able to expend our police resources in other areas of the city too.”
Brookhaven police said over a seven-month period last year, they answered more than 800 calls for incidents at 10 late night businesses.
Danny Waledeyes has owned Evangadi Lounge for three years and said crime isn’t an issue for him. He said because other bars in neighboring cities close later, that’s going to drive his customers away.
“In one or two miles, you can go to somewhere and get 30 minutes more so you’re not going to come to us,” Waledeye said.
He said usually half of his customers don’t get there until 1:30 a.m.
Last year, city officials also increased the fee for alcohol licenses for businesses that have dance floors, disk jockeys, or stages. Those venues can pay up to $100,000 for a license.
They cited crime as a reason for the change in that decision too.
The new closing time goes into effect next week. If bars are caught operating after the new time, their alcohol license could be at risk. Owners can also receive a citation to appear in court.
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