Bushwick Community Board Tries Midnight Bar Curfew

Much as it did in Williamsburg before, the explosive growth of bars and nightlife in Bushwick is causing tensions. Community Board 4 has instituted a rule that bars applying for or renewing liquor licenses must shut down alcohol sales at midnight on Sundays, DNAinfo reported. However, it has no power to enforce such a rule, and bar owners say though they might be open all day, most of their sales occur after midnight. The new rule “would affect me significantly since I have a 4 a.m. liquor license,” said Jeff Pan, owner of Skytown cafe and bar on Broadway. “The majority of our alcohol sales occur after midnight.” At the same time, he said he could understand the board represents “many residential buildings that don’t want to be living near a bar, especially considering Bushwick’s exponential growth in the bar industry.” Should communities restrict the number of bars allowed in residential areas?
Bushwick Bars Given Midnight Curfew on Sundays by Community Board [DNAinfo]