By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
It’s official – Bowling Green’s downtown has a DORA, starting Thursday.
A DORA is a designated public area where alcoholic beverages can be purchased from permitted establishments and consumed outside within the district.
Patrons of six bars/restaurants that signed up within the DORA are permitted to sell alcoholic beverages “to-go” which will be poured into designated, marked cups. Customers must consume the beverages within the marked DORA district.
The bars/restaurants are Bar 149, City Tap & The Attic, Doc’s Big City Saloon, SamB’s Restaurant, The Clay Pot (formerly Naslada Bistro) and Trotter’s Tavern. More are expected to join.
The City of Bowling Green and all its departments, BG City Council, business owners along with the Downtown Bowling Green S.I.D. worked for several months on the project. They were able to set up the DORA quickly, holding a public hearing for citizen input, and getting state approval.
“I’m very pleased that council was supportive from the beginning,” Mayor Mike Aspacher said. “It was a good group effort. All of us are pleased with the outcome.”
“From the beginning we’ve seen this as a way to benefit our downtown,” the businesses, festivals and other events, he said.
Aspacher is hopeful that more businesses get involved in the DORA.
Tony Vetter, director of Downtown Bowling Green Special Improvement District, said the creation of a DORA had overwhelming support of downtown businesses, and more bar/restaurants are already showing interest in participating.
“I know of two already,” he said, listing off Beckett’s and Juniper.
The Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area includes about 9.23 acres stretching from Clough Street on the south end to just north of Court Street on the north end.
The DORA is expected to give a boost to downtown businesses.
“It’s all about foot traffic,” Vetter said. “It will definitely help businesses, especially at this time when we’re practicing social distancing.”
The DORA will be in effect annually from the Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend until the end of the day on the Monday of Labor Day Weekend. The following hours will be in effect each week: Monday – Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., and Friday – Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The last sales shall occur no later than 9:30 p.m. and all cups must be disposed of by 10 p.m.
“We’re going to have about a month and a half to give it a test drive,” Vetter said.
“Establishing a DORA in downtown Bowling Green enables us to build on our efforts to create a Think Local atmosphere which invites a shop, dine and explore environment,” Vetter said.
Vetter credited the mayor for moving the DORA process along so quickly.
“This is one of the first things the mayor had on his docket for how he wanted to help the downtown. He did a good job of making it happen,” Vetter said.
“I am excited about the possibility of the DORA program creating more foot traffic within the downtown businesses and the added benefit of allowing bars and restaurants to continue to serve customers while enabling social distancing,” Aspacher said.
The city’s request to establish a DORA came on the heels of some difficult times for downtown businesses. Last year, extensive construction in the downtown area discouraged customers from patronizing stores and restaurants, then this spring COVID-19 shut down many businesses for a couple months.
However, the applicants also have a long-term view of the benefits of a DORA in Downtown Bowling Green. Approval of a DORA is for the economic and cultural benefit of Bowling Green, according to the application.
The DORA will serve to enhance the experiences of the patrons of the business establishments and the special events within the Downtown Bowling Green area. It provides options for those visiting Bowling Green and positions the community as a vibrant destination for entertainment, culture, and activity. Safety and cleanliness are priorities of the Bowling Green DORA proposal.
Following are some details from the application:
- Signage: Plans call for at least 16 signs to be posted at the intersections and alley connections, to designate the boundaries of the DORA.
- Time of year: The DORA may be in operation annually from the Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend, until the end of day on Monday of Labor Day weekend.
- Hours: The outdoor refreshment areas may be open Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 to 10 p.m., and Fridays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Last sales will occur no later than 9:30 p.m., and all cups must be disposed of by 10 p.m.
- Public safety plan: The Bowling Green Police Division commits to the continued patrol and monitoring of Bowling Green’s Downtown and the DORA as often as possible during times of DORA operation. The patrol of the area shall be tailored to be adequate and sufficient for public safety. For special events, businesses may need to contract with the city police. This security plan will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
- Trash: The City of Bowling Green has 12 trash receptacles placed throughout the DORA located on both sides of North and South Main streets. Public Works will monitor the use of the receptacles during the DORA operation and may adjust frequency of collection during regular operation hours, if necessary. Establishments in the DORA that have liquor permits to serve alcohol on their premises shall maintain a trash receptacle of adequate size near the main entrance of the facility.
- DORA cups: All beer, wine or intoxicating liquor must be contained in the official cup of the DORA. Private property owners reserve the right to prohibit the consumption of alcohol on their property.
- Behavior: DORA participants are expected to follow all the rules of the DORA and maintain a decorum of good behavior, free of public drunkenness, property destruction, or any action that disrupts the enjoyment of another participant or disrupts any establishment, property owner, resident, visitor, passerby or patron within the DORA.
More information can be found at www.downtownbgohio.org.
