Bring back the 5 am bar closings?

The return of the 5 am bar closings were discussed at last night's Business/Resident Liaison meeting. Village Council member Michelle Niemeyer (shown here) shocked and delighted the restaurant and bar owners by suggesting that a resolution be drawn up that should be brought to the next Village Council meeting.

Many at the meeting were in favor of changing the time back to 5 am, including residents, who don't feel there is a noise or safety issue.

Eighteen Grove restaurants sit empty today, many landlords cannot rent out to restaurants or bars because of the 3 am bar closing rule. New businesses go elsewhere when they hear of the stipulation, especially when the rest of the City of Miami does not have this rule.

Ask CocoWalk's general managers, they cannot rent out their large spaces do to this "spot enforcement." They are losing thousands of dollars in rent a month.

All of the Grove suffers. The roll back to 5 am would help everyone with a ripple effect. Just ask any business in the Grove how they feel, you'll get an earful. They are all for it. While we are a sleepy little town, most of us don't like being a dead sleepy little town.