Waukesha Aldermen Vote to Keep Booze off the Street
Magellans won’t be allowed to have alcohol in fenced off area during Freeman Friday Night Live.
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With a few quick votes, a request to allow alcohol in the tent on the street next to Magellans was shut down by the Waukesha Ordinance & License Committee Monday evening.
If approved, the pizza place and bar would have been allowed to serve alcoholic beverages on the tented/fenced off area that is on West Main Street in front of its building. The hours would have been from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays from July 22 trough Aug. 19, which would correspond with Freeman Friday Night Live, where Magellans sponsors a stage for live music each week.
Without asking for comment from anyone in the crowd – representatives from Magellan’s were not present – the council quickly moved to deny the extension of premises request.
“I don’t feel like we need to move the alcohol out onto the streets like they are requesting,” said Alderman Steve Johnson, adding that Freeman Friday Night Live is a family-orientated event that has a block party atmosphere.
Johnson added that he has seen people walk on the sidewalk with alcohol. However, bar staff members have been seen keeping people from taking the alcohol off the sidewalk and directing them toward the specific outdoor tables were alcohol is allowed or into the bar area.
Those familiar with Magellans’s request said after the meeting that owner Dan Italiano thought the Ordinance & License Committee meeting was next week Monday.
J Carroll Petrie
12:46 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Isn't this supposed to be family oriented-come on we don't need the alcohol-it will draw the the wrong crowd. Don't ya think??????? Personally I think it's stupid-are we making the taverns richer? Then we need more police-doesn't make any sense.
Jeff
2:09 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
I think that if we are closing streets we should offer businesses some more opportunities to make money. Afterall that is whta FNL is for; to bring more people downtown to support the businesses. I would support alcohol sales in specific locations. The fenced in area at Maggelan's would be an appropriate place for a trial. Let them do it for a couple of weeks, confined to this area, and see if any problems occur. I frankly don't see the difference between someone sitting at a table drinking a beer or standing up watching a band drinking a beer.
As for the Family Friendly atmosphere, who says alcohol and family friendly cannot co-exist? St. Mary's Paris Fest goes on every summer and they sell a ton of beer, yet its still family friendly. Every family event I go to has beer or wine and no problems. While I don't think this needs to be a weekly block party with booze on the streets, I think that extension of premesis permits for those impacted by the street closings seem like they might be an ok idea.
twister929
7:16 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Please follow up on this story. I'd like to know if this effects attendance.
jane
9:49 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
UM.. I thought this was Wisconsin? It's the biggest alchohlic state there is? you freakin people drive your children around with "road cokes". What does it matter if a few people have a few beers while enjoying the music. Get a life.