Drinking after midnight? Bradenton approves new alcohol permit rules for downtown bars

The Bradenton City Council recently approved a new rule that requires bar owners to apply for a permit to sell alcohol after midnight.

Now city leaders want to set another rule that requires bar owners to shut their doors 30 minutes earlier, at 2 a.m.

The moves come after business owners and residents asked Mayor Gene Brown to address late-night problems in downtown Bradenton.

“This is us doing something to try to make it a safer place,” Brown said.

At an Aug. 14 meeting, Bradenton police showed body camera video of officers breaking up fights, dealing with crowds and making arrests outside downtown bars over the last year.

“I have officers out there in harm’s way,” Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan said. “They were outgunned, outnumbered. That was a dangerous situation. …It’s a catastrophic situation waiting to happen if we don’t get our arms around this.”

Councilman Josh Cramer, who retired as assistant police chief in May 2022, said officers are “fighting a two-front war.”

“I have been on that street and had to call for all officers to come down there because you’re back-to-back with your partner officer because the crowd is coming in on you,” Cramer said.

Bradenton bar owners weigh in

Bar owners have until mid-October to apply for the after-midnight permit.

One bar owner said he wished city leaders would have asked bar owners to weigh in on the idea.

“We as business owners want a safe downtown just as much as you all do,” said James Miller, owner of Cork’s Cigar Bar. “We had meetings four or five years ago with city officials asking that we do something because we saw this was going to happen. We did not want an Ybor City, and that was our exact terminology. Here we are today going down that path.”

Another bar owner said he felt “rushed” and asked if city leaders could give bar owners a grace period to apply for the after-midnight permit.

“I have staff who rely on income from alcoholic beverage sales after midnight, which is primarily where most of their money is made,” said Joseph Bennett, owner of Pour Decisions Saloon, Craftails Speakeasy and The Bamboozer. “Without knowing how quickly I can apply for and receive the after-midnight permit, I can’t tell them how long it will take them to make the same income they’ve been making.”

Council members push earlier closing time

Several council members said downtown Bradenton bars should close earlier.

“My question is, if most of the drinking establishments in the county close at 2 o’clock, why would we want to stay open until 2:30 to encourage people to come down here because this is the only place they can get their drink on,” Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey said.

Councilwoman Jayne Kocher said city leaders want to make downtown Bradenton “a place for everybody.” She argued that a downtown Bradenton bar caught with illegal gambling machines earlier this year is not part of that vision.

“I think we need to speak loudly and clearly,” Kocher said. “This is not Bradenton. We don’t want to ever see this again. …I think we’ve tried to be supportive of businesses and maybe let things go a little bit too long.”