The owner of Sambuca says she is being financially squeezed out of her prime location on the corner of Front and Chestnut.
In addition to limited parking and fewer shoppers downtown, Kristen Myers says safety is a major issue.
Councilman Kevin O'Grady is a part of a task force working to clean up downtown and put a cap on the bars.
But downtown will be welcoming a new bar very soon.
One of the owners of Bottega will open a second bar. They will rent the space where East Coast Opera House used to be.
Some retail owners are feeling a strain from the downtown nightlife.
"There's just not the retail dollars here so it was a choice I had to make," said Sambuca owner Kristen Myers.
"Either stick it out and run the chance of going out of business or moving while I can," she said. "There's just not the balance of having the retail and it being a full-on downtown, where people can come during the day and come out at night."
Sambuca is moving to 3304 Wrightsville Avenue at the end of this month.
I'm very sad to see this
I'm very sad to see this excellent store move from the downtown area, but at the same time, I find that the anti-bar sentiment is slightly misguided. One of the other commentators pointed out that we need to take the history of downtown Wilmington into account; the place was a no-go area in the seventies and really only began to pick up in the late eighties. Things aren't as bad as they were then, but this is no excuse to sit back on our laurels. Bars are, and always will be, an integral part of downtown Wilmington, but they need to keep a closer eye on some of their patrons and ensure that they keep their storefronts looking clean and attractive. Furthermore, a downtown economy based on bars and restaurants alone is not a good idea. We need more retail and office space. Encourage downtown businesses with tax breaks, incentives, and limiting red tape, and stop the predatory towing and parking situation.
it's public perception
It's not just the bars (I do think there are too many). It's public perception. I have lived Downtown for 8 years with two children, I have NEVER felt unsafe Downtown! Now that my children are older they go Downtown with their friends (by themselves). However I have been shocked by people's perception and their notions of what goes on Downtown. Parking, theres plenty, theres 4 parking decks (1st hours free at some). People walk farther at the mall to get to a shop than they would Downtown from a parking deck. Shops, there are a lot of unique shops in Downtown, one won't find anywhere else in Wilmington (and if you would support them instead of chain stores they would overtake the bar scene) .Bars this isn't the 70's Downtown Wilmington. Theres no prostitutes, and drunken sailors getting in knife fights or porno shops. There are some of the nicest bars in Wilmington, Downtown. Ones with homemade Beer, ones with views of the river and wonderful sunsets, ones in old basements or down alleys that make it seem like a secret, ones with live music, and ones with great food. Are there too many? most likely, but if its one thing I've seen Downtown it's bars come and go. Theres a finite number this town can support, they just divide up the customer base and then consolidate it again. So stop listening to the hype and come Downtown.
bars v freedom
Here we go again. Screwing our selves out of our freedoms.
I feel its no ones bizz if some one feels like they can make money running a bar. Then by all means let them.
Wy is every one so double standerd.
kinda like that hooka shop. Its not a bar or restraunt. Its a hooka shop. Its a shop where people can go and smoke. Its a place for the smokers. If your not a smoker then dont go their.
I mean heck they even tell you what kinda of shop they are Hooka shop big bold letters.
you need to back off. let people live out their dreams. if things dont work out for the bar it will close. we are becomeing a communist nation. and its your fault. all you people that complain. you brain washed people of the world.
Limit downtown to 10 bars only!!!
When I was a kid, you could ride through downtown WIlmington and there were old run-down buildings, boarded up.. That was it... (Unless the Manor had a late night show)
Keep up the bars, and the retail stores that made downtown won't want to stay downtown...
The MAJORIYT of residents, no longer like downtown.. It is a haven for crime, drunkeness, and lewd behavior...
Not a place for a family or shopping anymore..
Here is a thought.. Step in before you completely destro our historic district...
LIMIT DOWNTOWN BARS TO 10!
(Imcluding if a bar has 2 or 3 stories with a bar on each floor...)
Must Be Sheltered
Its funny how horrible peoples perceptions are with reality sometimes. Let me clarify....Its not the "bars" that have a bad rep, its the "clubs". "Bars" (or pubs) tend to have an older mature crowd and stay busy all year round. Clubs are a fad and switch hands multiple times (Like the Rox, Hammerheads, Metropolis, Club Rize, etc. Also we don't need "retail". everyone seems to think that is the answer. We need different like candy stores that make salt water taffy or anything like that. Go to Savannah and Charleston and you won't find the same thing every block. But yes, they do have plenty of "bars".
stupid
"When I was a kid, you could ride through downtown WIlmington and there were old run-down buildings, boarded up.. That was it..."
Who wants this? Because its exactly what will happen if the bars were forced to close. Bars are the biggest money maker in downtown. The stores can blame the bars on bad business if they want, but they are wrong. Retail spending is down during a recession...especially for art, gifts, and high priced clothing. People are spending less money in stores, but people aren't drinking less.
Downtown Gets Another BARF . . .I mean BAR
Bars, bars, and more barfs . . . I mean bars.
The people of Wilmington are getting the message: No need to go downtown to shop because there are . . . well, there are so few shops. Not worth your time.
What a shame that the downtown retail area has been turned over to purveyors of alcohol.
Alcohol--the number one government-sanctioned recreational drug, is now King of the downtown lowlife--I mean nightlife!
Scratch The Surface
Before I moved here I can remember telling my previous boss, "Finally...Wilmington is so beautiful." She was stunned to hear this, and I have never forgotten her words, "Wait till you scratch the surface." Thats exactly what happened. And its only gotten worse.
Downtown Wilmington is trash. Its that simple. And its these bars and clubs that only trash it up more. I have visited many of downtowns, and I LOVE a good bar... but wilmington is possibly one of the dirtiest downtowns I have ever visited. You could not force me to take a visiting friends or family member to downtown...its embarrassing and dangerous.
ENOUGH WITH THE BARS!!!