Fall '03 Edition
Second year for downtown bars closed, University open
Jackie KeaneDaily Egyptian
 File Photo ~ Daily Egyptian
Jimmy John's owner Kent Butler confronts a rioter who had been pounding on his storefront windows during the October 2000 Halloween riots. Butler traveled from his home in Evansville, Ind., to protect his store from Halloween revelers. The windows and sign of his Jimmy John's store were later smashed. In August 2001, Jimmy John≠s received compensation for the destroyed sign after Rhett Cunningham, 21, of Danville pleaded guilty to the damage
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In an effort to keep Halloween as calm as the previous two years, the bars on the Strip will remain closed from Friday at 2 a.m. through Sunday at 11 a.m.
Carbondale's City Council will require downtown bars to be closed by city ordinance in an effort to combat the notorious Halloween riots.
This will be the second consecutive year the University will remain open and the bars closed, a combination that worked well last year.
Chancellor Walter Wendler said he appreciates there being no problems last year and hopes this year will be the same.
According to Carbondale Police Chief R.T. Finney, last year there were no Halloween Strip-related arrests. Also, there has not been any damage to property during the Halloween weekend within the last two years.
But simply because there have not been any problems recently does not mean the Police Department is not gearing up for the busy weekend.
"There will be about one-third more police officers out on the street," Finney said. "But we don't expect any issues on the Strip."
Finney said he thinks this Halloween weekend will play out similar to last year's.
In 2000, the University remained closed and the City Council voted to allow the bars to remain open. That recipe led to out-of-control chaos, resulting in more than 150 arrests and extensive damage to downtown businesses.
The riots prompted the University to remain closed and the council to close the bars for the following year. Last year was the first time in seven years that the University remained open.
"Precautions are closing the bars in the downtown area," said Carbondale City Manager Jeff Doherty said. "That is where the problems have been in the past and we feel that by shutting down the bars, as it was last year, it was effective in controlling problems in that area."
Bars falling within the boundaries of University Avenue to the west and to the railroad tracks on the east, Walnut to the north and Grand Ave. to the south will be closed. Restaurants such as Pagliai's and Quatro's, which sell liquor and lie within these boundaries, will not be affected by the city ordinance and will be allowed to serve alcohol this weekend.
The city has agreed to waive the city liquor license fee for the bars it requires to be closed.
"Basically an action by the city in recognition of loss of business this weekend," Doherty said.
The license fee is based on occupancy at the bar. Carboz, whose fee will not be waived because it is not located in the downtown area, pays $2,250 for its city license.
This weekend, however, may be a busier weekend for bars such as Carboz, Pinch Penny and Copper Dragon, which are not located downtown.
Brian Callahan, general manager and owner of Carboz, said it would provide about seven more security personnel and place them not only inside the nightclub but also in the parking lot.
Callahan, who said the same precautions as last year will be taken, said Halloween is one of Carboz's busiest nights of the year. Carboz will be hosting a costume contest where the winner can receive a free ticket to Cancun, Mexico.
Whether it is participating in the costume contest or trick-or-treating, University and city officials hope there will be no problems this year.
"We want people to enjoy themselves and be safe," Doherty said.
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Last update: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 at 10:21:35 PM
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