Entertainment license upsets businesses

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Bars in Springfield will soon be required to have a special late night permit to entertain past 1am. This permit is aimed at curbing violence in the city but many are worried about how this will affect the local economy.

A man from East Hartford was arrested early Saturday morning in downtown Springfield after leaving a bar and its violence surrounding the entertainment district that has police worried, but businesses are even more concerned.

Last call for alcohol is about to change in Springfield. Once all the paperwork's in, any establishment with an alcohol pouring license in the city will be required to apply for a special permit if they want to have any entertainment past 1am.

However, residents are concerned about what this will do to the local economy. Walter Serrano of Springfield said, “an hour of business could bring a lot of money, could generate a lot of money so therefore, an hour of business being closed earlier, it's going to hurt the business.”

The Chessmen Lounge is in downtown Springfield and the last hour is the busiest time of the night for them. Still police say this permit will help curb criminal activity, especially from people coming from out of town that stir up trouble but this bar doesn't think the problem is necessarily widespread.

 “We never have any problem with out-of-staters mostly the problem is the next block over Worthington Street I mean it's everywhere in the city but between 12 and 1, 1 and 2 this is a pretty mellow place,” said Nicholas Moses, Manager of the Chessmen Lounge.

There is an exception to this rule however; if more than 40% of the business of the establishment is food service then they're not required to get this special permit.

And it’s not just the bars that are being affected. Glen Larace who works at Brick City Pizzeria said,“It'd be really bad for businesses like us who basically live off of the bars in the entertainment district.”

And some like Chris Fontaine of Springfield are skeptical this will actually help at all, “It could be anywhere in any city, I mean there's a lot of violence going on and I just think it's going to happen earlier now.”

Once all the paperwork is done, the late night entertainment restriction will go into effect in 30 days.