DJs at Hollywood's nightclubs ordered to shut down the music at midnight

[Guest ic143]

Hollywood · The city will have more power to yank liquor licenses from troublesome late-night bars, and DJs will no longer be able to spin music past midnight at places where alcohol is being served.

On Wednesday, commissioners voted 5 to 2 in favor of a series of new restrictions on 4 a.m. liquor licenses. The goal was to prevent the city's emerging downtown from becoming another South Beach, Police Chief James Scarberry said.

A few years ago, downtown business owners cried out about problems they said were caused by several late-night dance clubs that have since gone out of business. The restrictions on 4 a.m. liquor licenses were the city's attempt to address those problems.

Cutting off DJs at midnight was key, Mayor Mara Giulianti said, because the music they played created "anti-establishment feelings" among partygoers, who then caused problems in the city.

The ordinance, which takes effect Oct. 1, allows restaurants, bars and other places not employing DJs to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. Establishments wanting to continue serving until 4 a.m. would have to be either a restaurant/bar that serves food until closing time or a bar in a hotel or motel with at least 150 rooms.

The changes mean that Robert Gale, owner of Xit Nightclub on Dixie Highway north of Hollywood Boulevard, has just 2 1/2 months to sell or lease his building.

Full story http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-slicense14jul14,0,5630739.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[Guest slamminshaun]

the music they played created "anti-establishment feelings" among partygoers, who then caused problems in the city.

Political translation: Hip-hop music and alcohol just don't mix.

[Guest PORNSTAR]

Urban lifestyle and Hollywood Florida... dont mix very well........... they dont want it to be another South Beach.......

[Guest saintjohn]

HOLLYWOOD

Leaders tighten late-night liquor rules

Hollywood commissioners made it much tougher for businesses to get an extended-hours license that allows them to serve alcohol from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Hollywood tightened its rules for businesses that serve alcohol between 2 and 4 a.m., effectively closing the tap at at least one downtown nightclub.

Among the new regulations: establishments with the coveted extended-hours licenses won't be permitted to use disc jockeys from midnight to 4 a.m.

Robert Gale, an owner of XIT Nightclub, said he only uses disc jockeys and isn't set up to have live bands at his two-story, 10,000-square-foot club at 219 N. 21st Ave.

''That shuts me down,'' an angry Gale said. ``Between 2 and 3 [a.m.] is my largest liquor sales. You make your money between 2 and 4 [a.m.]''

Gale would have to convert his nightclub into a restaurant bar or hotel/motel bar to reapply for a city license to sell alcohol after 2 a.m. He said he plans to sell the building or lease it out.

Gale said his clientele of largely black crowds on Wednesday and Sunday nights and some Saturday nights don't mesh with the city's vision.

''They have a different picture for downtown Hollywood,'' Gale said.

Others claimed that the issue was more about the city's objection to a ''hip-hop'' urban crowd, a charge the mayor denied.

Mayor Mara Giulianti explained that the city was trying to discourage an ''anti-social'' crowd -- not an urban crowd.

''We cannot afford the problems that come with a disrespectful crowd,'' Giulianti said.

Gale said he wanted an extension of six months or a year, but commissioners didn't budge.

''They made changes for everyone else,'' Gale said. ``They were not going to make a change for me.''

Current licenses expire on Sept. 30. Fourteen establishments now have such licenses in the city. Seven applications are pending.

Last week, commissioners tentatively passed the city law by a 4-3 vote. At that time, Commissioner Keith Wasserstrom tailored the ordinance to benefit some existing establishments and pending applicants. This week, commissioners tweaked the regulations further to benefit Octopus Garden, 1942 Hollywood Blvd.

The initial ordinance set a 1,500-square-foot minimum for businesses with the license. Octopus Garden, owned by Malka Porges, had missed the size mark by 300 square feet, but got a pass on Wednesday when commissioners deleted that requirement.

The new rules were drafted in an effort to deal with past 2 a.m. problems, such as fighting, public drunkenness, vandalism and gunfire.

Vice Mayor Cathy Anderson and Commissioner Sal Oliveri voted against the ordinance. Anderson said her constituents opposed it and Oliveri wanted to cap the number of establishments with the license in the city.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/12127039.htm

[V. Barbarino]

lets hope they all go south...

[Kamikaze1414779018]

There is a real opportunity for these owners to pick up and move to a location that wants them. Downtown Miami is the first location, but I also see it a possibility of moving north into Ft Lauderdale's downtown, since it is without a major player besides VooDoo.

[Guest james stratus]

These places just don't seem to want revenue. And please give me a break, Hollywood will never ever be anything like SoBe was or even is now. I guess they want it to be just like the rest of red neck Florida and the South, Mid-West, and West Coast. But atleast a DJ can play in Sebring until 2 am... Dumbasses >

[Guest barstar diana]

thats fine by me let the money come here, btw sobe is not a bad place they paint that picture :

[Guest coach]

Why don't we all just fucking move to China where the gov't can more easily control all aspects of our lives?

[Guest rhythmburn]

so... you can have music in your establishment, but you can't have a DJ playing the music... WTF?? this is one of the most assinine things I have heard in a while...

[Guest beat junkie]

There is a real opportunity for these owners to pick up and move to a location that wants them. Downtown Miami is the first location, but I also see it a possibility of moving north into Ft Lauderdale's downtown, since it is without a major player besides VooDoo.

Downtown Lauderdale needs the business now since Hardrock has taken over.