Column: Entertainment zones for Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach could use some revitalization, and San Francisco just showed us the way.
San Francisco, like Long Beach, had trouble reactivating its Downtown core after the pandemic.
But that city has an idea to bring people back for what could be a more vibrant nightlife scene now that the state passed a law letting the city create “entertainment zones”—areas where people can buy and drink alcoholic beverages outdoors.
“Entertainment zones bring new economic opportunities that will help strengthen San Francisco’s Downtown and neighborhoods citywide,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
State Senator Scott Weiner, D-San Francisco, who authored the law, said it’s a way to make sure Downtown thrives.
San Francisco has chosen a block of Front Street in the Downtown core as the first of these entertainment zones. The zone does have rules, like beverages have to be sold in specific containers, and only restaurants, bars and the like are allowed to sell open containers—not liquor stores.
“Downtown San Francisco needs a nightlife renaissance post-pandemic,” said Robbie Silver, Executive Director of the Downtown SF Partnership.
The zone rules also specify that outdoor drinking is only allowed during “events and activations” but this can include street fairs and other local activities that are easy enough to set up. It could be an easy way to get more people out and about in what used to be more popular nightlife areas.
Of course, Long Beach has its own Downtown strip that could use revitalization.
Pine Avenue Downtown should be one of the better areas to walk around and enjoy the city, and it recently hosted a series of community events that led to it being closed for roughly two weeks to car traffic.
While the street was car-free, lots of people came out to enjoy DJs, dancing and more that came with it. There was even a multi-night roller disco on the street that became a temporary promenade.
"The events were successful in drawing people to Downtown," said Austin Metoyer, President of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance. He also said a majority of the businesses would like to see it happen again.
But I think this would have been a perfect opportunity to let all of those businesses sell beer, wine and other drinks to the people who were enjoying the new car-free public space.
“It shows the importance of having an entertainment district and activating such a street like Pine,” said Jon Sweeney, who owns the brewery Altar Society on Pine. He also mentioned a big boost in sales on the nights of the special events.
It would seem like these businesses are eager for more opportunities to host events like this and keep the road closed to cars but still open to people. It would be easy enough to replicate San Francisco’s open container district on Pine as well.
Long Beach officials should look to create our own entertainment zones on Pine and other places that have lots of foot traffic for nightlife and events, like Belmont Shore and Fourth Street’s Retro Row.
And, while they're at it, they could look to make those streets car-free, permanently.
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