Reader: After LoDo Letout, All the Bros Can Go to Glendale to Drink Until 4!

Mike Dunafon, former mayor of Glendale and husband of Debbie Matthews, owner of Shotgun Willie's, is running for governor as a third-party candidate -- and it might as well be the Party party. Because as a major booster of Glendale's riverwalk project, he and other officials pushed for a 2011...

By Patricia Calhoun

September 22, 2014

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Mike Dunafon, former mayor of Glendale and husband of Debbie Matthews, owner of Shotgun Willie's, is running for governor as a third-party candidate -- and it might as well be the Party party. Because as a major booster of Glendale's riverwalk project, he and other officials pushed for a 2011 state law that allows municipalities to establish "entertainment districts" that contain "common consumption areas." Glendale then established an entertainment district that includes the new CitySet project as well as Shotgun Willie's. And last month, a new municipal code took effect in Glendale that pushes back the time that bars in this area must stop serving to 4 a.m., two hours later than any other watering hole in the state. So far, Shotgun Willie's is the only place to take advantage of the new rule; it's now charging a $30 cover to get into the venue after 2 a.m, as a CBS 4 report notes.

Our Latest Word blog reported on the new Shotgun hours Friday, and the response was quick:

Says Ed:

Whoo-hoo! After let-out downtown, all the bros can head down to Glendale. What could possibly go wrong?

Not to worry, responds WhirledPeasPlease:

I hope more bars in Glendale do this. A 4am bar close time reduces alcohol fueled incidents and accidents because there are fewer drunks on the streets at 2am. Instead people straggle home whenever they are done drinking, very few can keep going until 4am.

A law that would have expanded closing times statewide never made it out of committee last legislative session, but extending bar hours and staggering bar closings has been suggested before as a solution to LoDo letout crowds...and all those bros. What do you think of the Shotgun Willie's move?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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