Six bars have offered to stop letting patrons in after 1 a.m., under late-night entertainment permits.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, left, is seen with lawyer Daniel Kelly, who represents several Springfield clubs and bars.SPRINGFIELD – Six downtown bars, including five strip clubs, have proposed a change in their door entry policy if Mayor Domenic J. Sarno allows them to keep the music and dancing going past a 1 a.m. entertainment curfew.
Daniel D. Kelly, representing the six bars, said during a hearing on Tuesday that all six are willing, as a “good faith” concession, to stop anyone from entering the bar after 1 a.m., if the mayor agreed to give them late-night entertainment permits. The permit would allow the bars to keep the entertainment going up to their regular 2 a.m. closing time.
Under the offer, there would be no entry or re-entry past 1 a.m., Kelly said.
“It was an offer made, we thought, that would be a concession to the city to show our intent and commitment to security at that late hour which we know is a concern to the administration,” Kelly said after the hearing at City Hall. “We would say that is a significant concession.”
In Northampton, bars that are granted special permission to stay open until 2 a.m., must prohibit any patron entry or re-entry after 1 a.m., Police Chief Russell Sienkiewicz said.
Sarno imposed a citywide 1 a.m. entertainment curfew in April, which allows all bars, clubs and bar-restaurants to stay open until 2 a.m., but forces them to stop music, dancing, television, and other forms of entertainment an hour earlier unless they obtain the late-night permit or are exempted due to substantial food sales. Nineteen bars have been granted the late permits.
Bars represented by Kelly have filed suit against the city, challenging the 1 a.m. curfew.
The six bars applying for the permits Tuesday are as follows: Mardi Gras, 87-91 Taylor St.; Fifth Alarm, 775 Worthington St.; Center Stage, 265-267 Dwight St.; Scores, 453 Worthington St.; Xstatic, 240 Chestnut St.; and Oz, 377 Dwight St. Five of the six bars, excluding Oz, are strip bars with adult entertainment, Kelly said.
All six bars were denied the late-night entertainment permits in March, but are reapplying as allowed by the city, Kelly said. Five of the six bars, excluding Scores, have added kitchens in recent months, which was a stated reason for denying their late night permit in March, Kelly said. Scores was not required to have a kitchen, he said.
Kelly resubmitted updated security plans for all six bars, which details their security teams and training, the hiring of extra-duty police officers, door-entry policies including any electronic scanning devices, and video cameras both inside and outside the establishments.
Sarno has stated the curfew is intended to protect public safety. Critics have questioned its effectiveness, and say it hurts business.
City hearing officer Alesia H. Days conducted the hearing, and the city was also represented by Assistant City Solicitor Stephen M. Reilly Jr. Days will submit her findings to Sarno.
Scores and Center Stage are owned by Helen Santaniello of Longmeadow, under the corporate names of Helesant Inc., and Bino Inc., respectively, according to corporate records. The Mardi Gras and Oz are owned by Anthony L. Santaniello under the corporate names of Mardi Gras Entertainment Inc., and Jazzberries Inc.
Fifth Alarm is owned by Sherri-Lynn Via of East Longmeadow, under the corporate name Fifth Alarm Inc., and Xstatic is owned by Michael Brisbois of Springfield, under the corporate name of Buddy’s Pub Inc., according to records.