The Metro Council’s vote Wednesday evening to allow bars to open from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays could change the way downtown Baton Rouge looks and operates. While a few restaurants serving alcohol already open on Sunday—including Capital City Grill, Lucy’s, and Schlitz & Giggles—at least a half dozen bars are regularly shuttered, making Third Street and the surrounding blocks look rather deserted on any given Sunday. “It gives the whole arts and entertainment center a little more life,” says Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer of the new ordinance. With football season in full swing, Rhorer notes, this is obviously a busy season for local bars, and many of them downtown with flat-screen TVs will likely take advantage of the opportunity to draw Sunday crowds as soon as they can. The owners of popular downtown bars such as Happy’s Irish Pub, The Roux House, and Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s did not return calls for comment this morning. Rhorer notes that a fourth hotel is under development downtown, and weekend visitors to Baton Rouge will also likely welcome additional entertainment options on Sundays alongside events such as the free Sunday in the Park concert series at North Boulevard Town Square. Read the full story here.—Adam Pearson
Today’s poll question: Do you think the Metro Council’s decision to allow bars to open on Sundays will have a measurable impact on downtown Baton Rouge?
