ORLANDO, Fla. — Some downtown Orlando bar owners are still waiting to get permits they will need to sell alcohol after midnight.
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The city passed new rules for bars in response to problems with crime downtown.
City officials said they will continue working diligently to get through the backlog and the downtown bars who haven’t been processed yet will just have to wait.
The new rules require heightened ID checks and metal detectors at some of the bigger bars, while anywhere that wants to sell alcohol after midnight will also need an additional permit.
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So far, out of the 63 applicants, only 26 permits have been approved. The city said it’s working diligently through the list after receiving about half the applications this past week.
The city has 30 days to process an application.
“Each application is unique, so staff is working with businesses to make sure everything they submit is accurate and appropriate to be able to submit those permits,” said David Barilla with the city.
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Thomas Ward, who owns Pig Floyd’s and the newly opened Pigzza, said he’s seen long wait times with the city’s permit office.
“Took about four months for permitting, and for Pigzza it took about two years because it was a change of use,” he said. “It’s a situation where, if you don’t have the cash flow to support it, to build out your restaurant – that’s something that can hurt you.”
The city said it will work through things as quickly as it can. Businesses can expect enforcement to come around As early as tomorrow for the after-midnight alcohol sales and citations for safety officers Friday, which will be a busy one with Cinco de Mayo festivities.
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