DeKalb Council Approves Downtown Entertainment District

DEKALB — The DeKalb City Council approved an ordinance creating a Downtown Entertainment District within the city’s central business district, allowing patrons to carry alcoholic beverages between participating businesses in approved city branded cups during designated hours. The district will generally be bounded by North First Street, East Locust Street, North Fourth Street and the Union Pacific railroad tracks, with carve outs remaining for The Grove Tavern and Faranda’s. Participating liquor licensed businesses will be allowed to sell one alcoholic drink at a time in approved cups to customers 21 and older for consumption within the district. Bottles, cans and glass containers will not be allowed, and drinks cannot be brought into or taken outside district boundaries. Operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with sales of to go cups ending nightly at 9:30 p.m. City officials said the program is intended to increase pedestrian activity, support downtown businesses and provide a structured environment for visitors and residents. Officials also noted similar policies have already been used during downtown events including Corn Fest, Cinco de Mayo and Back Alley Market without reported issues.