Longer liquor sales after Aurora blues fest?

Aurora officials envisioning an arts and entertainment district downtown may get to give the idea a two-night test run this summer.

Aldermen are set to vote Tuesday, May 24 on a liquor license amendment that would let businesses on Restaurant Row stay open until 3 a.m. after Blues on the Fox June 17 and 18 — but only if they provide live entertainment.

Blues on the Fox organizers expect record crowds this year for the festival's 15th running, to be headlined by Buddy Guy, said Gina Moga, Aurora's development coordinator. And the festival will take place in the North River Street parking lot, just north of the Restaurant Row eateries on New York Street.

“We basically have a captive audience,” Moga said. “We have what's going to amount to a pub crawl on Restaurant Row only.”

Restaurants on New York Street between Broadway Avenue on the east and River Street on the west, including La Quinta De Los Reyes at 36 E. New York St. and Ballydoyle Irish Pub at 28 and 42 New York St., can apply for the hour-long liquor license extension by paying a $50 fee and providing the name of their live entertainment.

At Tuesday's committee of the whole meeting, when aldermen first discussed the liquor license extension, Alderman Stephanie Kifowit asked why other businesses “that might benefit from overflow from the blues” festival won't have the option of staying open an hour later.

The city is limiting the number of restaurants to test the idea at a few locations before expanding it, Moga said. Five Restaurant Row establishments hold liquor licenses and are eligible to apply, she said.

“We close (Blues on the Fox) at 10 p.m. and in the scheme of things, that's pretty early,” Moga said. “The thought is to continue the live music inside at the five venues.”

Alderman Rick Lawrence asked if allowing as many as five restaurants to stay open until 3 a.m. would require an increased police presence.

City Clerk Cherly Vonhoff said she ran the idea by Aurora Police Patrol Commander Kristen Ziman, who said she saw no issues from a police standpoint; the extra alcohol sales hour would not require additional officers.

Mayor Tom Weisner said adding an hour to a liquor license also would require a restaurant keep its kitchen open an hour longer, providing food to counterbalance patrons' alcohol intake.