Killing Success

Published July 11, 2010 at 1:29 p.m.
Way to go West Hartford!

We work hard to make our town a destination, even get recommended by Kiplinger's, and now you want to throw a wet towel on it by enforcing a silly 10 PM curfew on outdoor dining?? (The Courant's story is here)

Yes, a notice was mailed out to numerous dining establishments in town last month by the West Hartford police, reminding them that the town has a 10 PM curfew on outdoor dining which needs to be adhered to.

So the rule is that anyone who orders food in dining areas outside before 10 PM can remain seated there for as long as it takes them to finish their meal, including coffee and dessert. After 10 PM, food and drinks will only be served inside the restaurant.

Other towns have various rules. Bridgeport's rule is that a restaurant may serve food in an outdoor dining area only as long as it serves food in its main inside dining area, but honestly who wants to go to Bridgeport?.

What a business downer for eateries like The Elbow Room, Bricco, McLadden's, and Grant's especially. All are hot spots in town with The Elbow Room annually awarded "Best Outdoor Dining" from well known publications, and Grant's whose ample sidewalk dining area is always filled with a late-night crowd...People have been visiting "The Center" from far away places and have been spending money here. That's supposed to be the goal, right?

So how long has this rule gone unenforced? and why is it now such a big deal for the Police Department to enforce it? Are the neighbors getting crabby? We thought they all wanted to live, and enjoyed living, in a happening environment with lots of hustle and bustle, you know like a mini New York City or Boston. Now they are complaining? Is it because most of the people coming are younger and more trendy then they are? Maybe they are jealous of them pulling up in limousines and having a good time. Who knows...Now they want to roll up the sidewalks at 10 PM and turn West Hartford into Plainville. Good grief.



The thing is, we should be happy that we have this problem of people wanting to come and dine and spend money here in the middle of a recession. It's bad enough we slap them with parking tickets during the daytime, now we want to turn away the "after 10 PM crowd" with an outdoor dining curfew?

Instead of trying to put a damper on late night business, we ought to be happy people are coming here for some nightlife. God knows there aren't many places in CT where there is a nightlife.

What's next?
Closing down the Reservoir to public recreation?

Sure seems like West Hartford is working hard to get off of Kiplinger's list.


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