Bars fear looming change in Boca alcohol-sale hours

Two establishments get to close later due to grandfathering.

BOCA RATON — Carlos Ber’s sports-bar-style lounge on Milit ar y Trail e ast of the Town Center mall has operated as a late-night destination for nearly 30 years — long before Boca Raton annexed that portion of the city from Palm Beach County.

That’s the reason Ber’s lounge, Nippers, c an sell alcohol until 5 a.m., unlike Boc a Raton’s other businesses.

But if a proposed ordinance is successful, Nippers — along with any other city businesses that sell alcohol past 2 a.m. — will have to scale back its last call.

“(Nippers) wouldn’t survive,” Ber said. “I would shut down.”

The o rd i na nc e wi l l b e introduced at the request of Mayor Susan Haynie at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Most businesses in Boca Raton already are barred from selling alcohol from 2 to 7 a.m.

But at least two Boca busiwithin 120 days of the ordinesses — Nippers and the nance passing. Blue Martini Lounge in the “I’ve been here for almost Town Center plaza — opened 30 years, so it’s very unfair. outside cit y limits before My people would have to Boca Raton annexed westlose their jobs and I would ern land in 2003. Those busilose my business,” said Ber, nesses were given permission who has 15 employees. to operate under Palm Beach Haynie anticipates Nippers County rules, which allow and Blue Martini managealcohol sales until 5 a.m. ment will voice concerns at

Haynie requested the ordiTuesday’s meeting, in which nance after reports of excesthe ordinance will simply be sive noise and crime from introduced, followed by a neighbors and police. vote at a later meeting.

“T h e y ’ ve h a d t e r r i b l e “I ’ m c e r t a i n t hat bot h noise complaints,” Haynie establishments will contact s a i d . “T h e r e h av e b e e n us and express concern, howassaults, multiple DUIs, fightever this is the right thing to ing ... Our police are very do,” she said. supportive of maintaining In 2010 and again in 2014, our 2 a.m. restriction.” a few downtown Boca Raton

It isn’t clear how many businesses pointed to Nipbusinesses in Boca Raton sell pers and Blue Martini to alcohol past 2 a.m., but any persuade c it y offic ials to on land annexed by the city allow alcohol sales past 2 in the future would have to a.m. cit ywide, according comply with city regulations. to news reports at the time.

The 2-7 a.m. ban is the T h e e f f o r t s u l t i mate l y norm in many municipalifailed, with city leaders and ties in the county, including police pointing to a potenneighboring Delray Beach, tial increase in crime as a Boynton Beach and Lake result of late-night partying. Worth. West Palm Beach Ten incidents have been allows est abli shments to reported at Blue Martini this serve alcohol until 3 a.m. year — including three batter

The ordinance Boca Raton ies and two assaults on offiwill consider cites “public cers, according to Boca Raton health, welfare, safety and Police. Four incidents were convenience” as reasons for reported at Nippers in that restricting sale hours. time frame, none violent.

It’s a battle Ber says he’s Ber worries c r ime will had with the city countless s pi ke i f t he ba n doe s go times. through.

“It seems like every year “If people want to drink, someone suggests this,” he they will drink,” he said. said. “But nothing happens.” “You’re just making them

Should it be successful this drive farther to do it. And time, however, it would be now you have to worry about detrimental to his business, them drunk-driving back he said. Nippers and the Blue home to Boca Raton.” Martini would have to stop selling alcohol after 2 a.m.