A sampling of “Downtown supporters” is evenly split on allowing alcohol sales to be extended to 4 a.m.
Downtown lounge owners are also a mixed bag on mixed drinks.
The survey was done by Downtown Vision Inc. at the request of the City Council-appointed Downtown Entertainment District Community Review Committee.
Downtown Vision said it e-mailed a questionnaire to its mailing list of 1,200 people it calls “Downtown supporters” and received a 20 percent response rate with about half favoring the change and half opting for the present 2 a.m. closing time.
Downtown Vision also surveyed 18 restaurant and club owners and only three said they would serve until 4 on weeknights and only six said they’d go until 4 on Friday and Saturday.
DVI, however, estimates that about half the 46 bars and restaurants eventually would stay open late including nine at the Landing, five on the Southbank, four in the Adams/Laura streets corridor, three in the Forsyth/Julia/Broad street area, and the remaining three spread throughout the Downtown area.
Hotel managers indicated that they would stay open late as conventions or crowds dictate.
The committee’s next meeting is undecided. Monday’s meeting was postponed and a new meeting date has not been scheduled.