We as a city have turned into quite a melting pot, defined by people of all different socioeconomic backgrounds with alternative occupations and living conditions. While it may feel like a minority to our City Commission, there are an overwhelming number of citizens who keep later hours and already feel stifled by the limited options available to them. 

Becky Roper, the owner of Pilar’s Martini Bar and curator of late-night entertainment in downtown Winter Garden, says it best: “The beauty of a diverse community is that it offers options that appeal to many types of people. You won’t catch me at a 7 am breakfast place, but you will find me out listening to music or with friends at midnight.”

I’m left wondering: How are “families” affected by the current alcoholic consumption in the late-night hours, when those families with kids, who have enjoyed their sunset entertainment, are long gone by 10 pm? Are two-income couples not a family? What about families with grown kids? Parents on a date night? Single professional adults who own homes in Winter Garden? And what about those locals who work into the late evening, but live in Winter Garden… Are their needs not a concern?

As a fellow patron, I can attest that a large group in the late night hours are the employees who work at the businesses on the street. Becky says, “The staff at Pilars is my primary concern, but also the rest of the employees on Plant Street. These people serve the “families” all day long, and then come here after work to enjoy themselves. It makes me so sad.”

Stipulations on operational hours, from an economic standpoint, will have both short-term and long-term effects. Initially, only some businesses will be hurt by this choice. Those that serve alcoholic beverages in the daytime, such as mimosas or bloody mary’s, won’t be allowed to serve until several hours into their breakfast or brunch service. Those that serve into the late hours without a kitchen will be forced to close. And, the few places left will be forced to close early if their kitchens can’t maintain the 51% food-to-alcohol sales ratio.

With fewer options for evening and late night entertainment, the charm of our historic downtown will lose its luster, and who will that affect most? The very same businesses that the City wants to have downtown to fill those expensive storefronts, and the employees that those businesses rely on to staff them.Ultimately, these impediments will cut into total sales and employees will lose income, whether that is fewer hours on the clock or diminishing tips.

From a business owner perspective, one thing is true: While most profits aren’t made in late night hours, they are made in the prime hours leading up. Jason Anderson, who just recently purchased Tony’s Liquor in 2023, agrees. He states in the original purchase of Tony’s, the ability to extend Tony’s evening hours (compared to the previous owner) to improve the business served as a selling point for the purchase. With this proposed ordinance, Tony’s could experience a loss in profits and potentially attendance.

It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae, but when I step back to look at the big picture, the “what ifs” seem to weigh more heavily. What if patrons, familiar with these limitations, decide to spend their money in Clermont or Hamlin or Winter Park instead? What if, with fewer or limited dining options, fewer people decide to visit Winter Garden and every business starts to lose? What if employees lose precious income and find more lucrative jobs in more open-minded locales?  What if existing businesses can no longer pay the high rents associated with “historic downtown” addresses?

After speaking to an overwhelming number of business owners and vetted residents in the process of gaining information and insight into this proposed ordinance, compromise seems to be the only answer. The good news is that because this proposal hasn’t been publically noticed,there’s still time to negotiate with the City leaders to amend the ordinance in favor of all parties involved, not just the interest of one particular group.

So, how do we do that? Start by sharing your concerns with your City Commissioners. Call or email them.Better yet, attend a Commission Meeting.

You’ll see me there because I believe this ordinance is backpedaling into a temperance movement way too 18th century for my liking. I implore you to stand for freedom of choice and allow all citizens as well as business owners, potential or current, the right to enjoy the beauty of this city when they want, with or without a beverage in hand