06-24-2003 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: Kathy Glanzer, City Staff and City Council FROM: Tom Duray, Hoggsbreath Bar and Restaurant DATE: June 16, 2003 RE: 2 a.m. closing time The 2 a.m. closing for the Hoggsbreath is crucial for us because a lot of the late night dancing is a large part of our business; we compete with Downtown St. Paul, Downtown Mpls., Stillwater in summer time, Stargate Night Club, The Bird Night Club, the Rock Night Club all in Maplewood, Club Cancun and the Warehouse Night Club in St. Paul. I have been in contact with these nightclubs by phone, and they all plan on being open until 2 a.m. Competition in our business, night club, and restaurant is so competitive that if theses other establishments are open till 2 a.m. and we weren't, we would not only loose the business from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., but we would loose out on business that would not come to the Hoggsbreath because we were not open until 2 a.m. A loss of 5 to 10% of our business would be devastating and we probably would not be able to continue. I believe there are three businesses in out city that would take advantage of being open until 2 a.m. Hoggsbreath, Bradys, and Gordies. These businesses are all family owned and operated businesses that have been in the city for 25 plus years each. Any problems that may come up because of the 2 a.m. closing would be handled on a per establishment basis by working with the city, just like we have been doing for the past 25 years. My suggestion would be as follows, amend out ordinance to allow the establishments who want to be open till 2 a.m. to do so, the ones that do not can chose not to do so, charge a license fee for the 2 a.m. closing, I suggest the same license schedule that the state is using. This 2 a.m. closing bill had broad support in the legislatures, both Republicans and Democrats voted for it. The House passed this bill 93 to 40, and the Senate voted 50 to 16. There was overwhelming support from the majority of cities in the state to get this passed, so we would be doing something that is supported by the citizens. Thank you Tom Duray P.S. I've attached the Little Canada's Volunteer Fire Depts. Accountants Report on last year's 2002 charitable gambling net income generated from the Hoggsbreath, and I'm sure Gordies, and Bradies may be similar. These businesses do give back to our community in many other ways, Thank you.