Wildwood bars to be open... 24 hours?!

At a city meeting yesterday, Mayor Gary DeMarzo and Commissioner Ed Harshaw addressed the previously proposed ordinance to extend Wildwood bar hours from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m.

After initially supporting the idea, both stated that they did not feel the increased hour of service time would help local businesses. Surprisingly, they subsequently got behind a suggestion from the Wildwood Beverage Association to allow 24-hour operations.

Commissioner Al Brannen, the head of public safety, was against the resolution, as he was with the original request to extend bar hours further into the early morning hours.

A public hearing on the matter is now scheduled for July 28th at 6:30 p.m., at City Hall.

The current 3 a.m. bar closing law has been in place since 1997.