Oak Bluffs businesses say they are suffering because of the town's new earlier last call, losing both money and the town's status as the epicenter of the Island late-night revelry.
Last year, the Oak Bluffs select board voted to move up last call by 30 minutes, from 1 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., to be in sync with when patrons can get their last drink in Edgartown. The decision was made to curb rowdiness and relieve stress on the understaffed police department.
One summer into the new rule and Oak Bluffs businesses say they are suffering because of it, losing both money and the town’s status as the epicenter of the Island late-night revelry.
“I wish there could be a change to go back, but the town made the rule,” said Ralston Francis, owner of Eleven Circuit Restaurant and Bar.
Mr. Francis estimated his business has lost somewhere between $70,000 to $100,000 in sales this summer because of the change, and it has hurt bartenders who rely on tips.
The town enacted the new rule to cut down on rowdiness and drunk driving.
The town enacted the new rule to cut down on rowdiness and drunk driving.
“If we could just get it for the summer, then in the winter then go back to 12:30 a.m., then sure,” he said.
Larkin Stallings, owner of the Ritz Cafe and the president of the Oak Bluffs Association, also estimated a $100,000 loss in sales at the Ritz and was worried about his employees.
“It absolutely has been very significant for our employees, our bartenders and servers and barbacks and that whole group,” said Mr. Stallings.
Not only are they missing out on an extra 30 minutes of work and tips, but when Oak Bluffs closed after Edgartown, the majority of patrons in the last half hour were service industry professionals who tend to tip better than people from other industries, Mr. Stallings said.
Eddie Silvia, a bartender who works at the Ritz and the Seafood Shanty in Edgartown, has seen the impact of the new last call firsthand.
“It has changed a little bit in tips because around 12, 12:30 p.m. is when the party for customers really starts,” Mr. Silvia said.
Mr. Silvia said that tips are down this summer, though he added that other factors could have played a role, including the rising cost of visiting Martha’s Vineyard.
The Oak Bluffs police department called for the change last year, saying that bars were letting out when the department shifts were changing, making it hard to address other public safety concerns. Police chief Jonathan Searle said he wanted more officers on the clock when bar-related incidents are most common.
Bar owners say employees are hurt the most due to loss of tips.
Bar owners say employees are hurt the most due to loss of tips.
“Looking at public safety for the entire town . . . there were two bars in particular that were complaining about the rollback, but the whole town deserves public safety,” he said.
Chief Searle added that while he had heard a number of people complaining about business being worse this summer, he does not think that the change in last call is the reason behind it. He pointed to several other considerations, including prices, the general state of the economy and poor Steamship service.
Emma Green-Beach, a select board member who voiced conflicted feelings about the change but voted in favor of it alongside other changes to the town’s alcohol policy, said she is not sure if the new last call time had been successful.
“I wish I had something concrete to say,” she said. “I don’t know that it has helped solve any of the problems we hoped it would.”
Ms. Green-Beach added that she had heard from members of the business community that patrons were shifting their habits to spend money in other towns, but that she had no hard data to back that up.
Jordan Wallace, owner of Midnight Mediterranean and Midnight Taco, is worried about the long-term effects on the town.
Some worry the change could hurt the town's reputation as the Island's nightlife epicenter.
Some worry the change could hurt the town's reputation as the Island's nightlife epicenter.
“Well, there’s an immediate effect that’s easy to take a look at, you can run the sales on your credit card processing terminals . . . . But one thing that that number can’t take into account is the change in the vibe of the town and the branding of the fun town on the Island,” Mr. Wallace said. “There’s a trickle down effect when you send the message that we don’t want to be open late anymore.”
JB Blau, owner of two restaurants in Oak Bluffs and the Loft nightclub, shared Mr. Wallace’s concerns. Mr. Blau said that Oak Bluffs has lost its competitive edge over Edgartown. Where the extra half hour used to lure people away from Edgartown, there’s a new calculus going on in customer’s minds that could affect other industries in Oak Bluffs, he said.
“A lot of people would book hotel rooms for Edgartown weddings in Oak Bluffs because they knew after the wedding, they were going to end in Oak Bluffs,” Mr. Blau said. “I don’t know what the case is now.”
Comments
Visiting Oak Bluffs this
John BrooklineVisiting Oak Bluffs this season it was very disappointing to go out and see so many empty bars in town. It was really missing the vibe that attracted us there in the first place.
Something doesn’t ring true
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsSomething doesn’t ring true with the thought that 30 minutes difference in last call adds up to the conclusions drawn. There are so many factors at play in making a successful season. Rentals were down, ferries unreliable, summer weather oppressive…feels like a reach too far to pin responsibility on one factor.
It's clearly a factor. I don
Jimmy OBIt's clearly a factor. I don't know how you can dismiss it as "doesn't ring true". Were you out in town after 11pm this summer?
All the businesses in OB are
R Scott Patterson EdgartownAll the businesses in OB are down from last year. It’s across the board, not just the bars. How exactly do the bar owners know the reason for the drop in sales has anything to do with the change of closing time? We’re open 10-6, can I blame the new closing time as well?
Since the business is taxed
Roderiques New Bedford, MaSince the business is taxed by the towns and the police is payed with the money collected in taxes paid to the town, technically the police are working for its citizens who hired them, why can’t the police change there schedules, the towns are losing money because it seems they are dictating the hours the establishment can stay open
What is clear is that the old
Vic Oak BluffsWhat is clear is that the old caravan of cars leaving the Edgartown bars racing to go catch last call in OB has been eliminated.
I don’t care if they do 12:30 or 1 but having the times synched between the towns has made a huge difference for public safety having those drivers off the road.
There has been zero data or
Jb Bkau Oak bluffsThere has been zero data or proof of any kind that a caravan of cars went from edg to OB. OB bars were full after 11p and no patrons were allowed in after midnight most nights. Maybe 30 years ago this happened but it 100% has not occurred recently.
Before this year, places like
Vic OBBefore this year, places like Port Hunter would empty out and you’d see all the people in line at the Ritz 10 minutes later. Everyone out the door would be asking / inviting people to go into OB. Everyone that goes out to the bars knows about it and did it.
It’s disingenuous when you say it doesn’t happen. You say there is no data to prove it, well, there is certainly no data to disprove it. The fact that all the OB businesses had big lines 30 minutes before close should be all the proof you need.
I agree with Chief Searle.
Tim OBI agree with Chief Searle. The Economy is a big factor. Nobody wants to talk about it. People dance around it. It comes down to the economy, it’s that dimple.
The police could change the
lisa nagy md vhThe police could change the time of their shift and and staffing The question is what is our focus entertainment, economic benefit, making tourists happy or The opposite? What time will have to decide what the focus is and proceed from there. Personally I think we should be focusing on the health of children in the schools suffering from environmental illness and talk about what’s really important in the newspaper it’s called environmental justice the White House is focused on it and I am focused on the White HouseAnd their environmental justice committee. Martha’s Vineyard has a huge epidemic of mental illness and addiction. Can we write a piece about that instead of just what time the bars close? FOCUS I was really important in the newspaper please include this subject matter it’s hard to even get it published is anybody interested please comment? We have such a huge alcoholism problem to the lower adrenal function and sick building syndrome. Does anybody care about their neighbor who isn’t feeling well? And say so and call the newspaper and ask him to do a really good piece please thank you Lisa Nagy
You know - not every article
KGYou know - not every article has to be earth shattering. This is in fact newsworthy and has been a hot bed of discussions over the past year.
My family and I are fully in
OB Gal OBMy family and I are fully in favor of the new closing time. As a summer resident of the Campground, this year early morning hours were much quieter. In the past my children and I would be awoken by loud talk and laughter as patrons left
the bars after 1:00AM. It didn’t happen once this summer. Please, be considerate of the residents.
Maybe, just maybe, the
Whoduthunk TisburyMaybe, just maybe, the Vineyard Haven scene has prompted the oak bluffs vibe to take a hit? Let's face it Vineyard Haven is the scene this summer. From El Barco, The Attic, Fish, 9 Craft, Salvatore's along with Garde East? it's kinda the nice new place to go and walk around town without 15 year old kids looking for a game room or ice cream!
I find it hard to believe
Zach Martha's VineyardI find it hard to believe many people are looking up last call times in the town before booking a hotel for a wedding... OB is still where people go regardless of closing time. Oak Bluffs is often times cheaper than EDG to stay... That is a stretch Mr. Blau!
Considering how damaging
James Kozak Vineyard HavenConsidering how damaging irresponsible service and irresponsible consumption of alcohol has been to the social fabric of Martha's Vineyard, this shrinking of 30 minutes is hardly cause of anguish and hand wringing.
Alcohol servers have had years to put in place measures for responsibly dispensing, yet the OB Police Weekly Update balloons every week with more public safety calls and arrests.
I don't see how this industry should be given any sympathy at all.
It's frustrating! After
Erin Oak BluffsIt's frustrating! After dinner, there's barely two hours left to enjoy the bars, and just when you're starting to have fun, it's already closing time. The Vineyard is changing, and not for the better—it's beginning to feel like a scene from *Footloose*. The police are imposing these so-called "public safety" measures, but it seems more like they just want an early night. There aren't crowds traveling from Edgartown to Oak Bluffs—only young islanders do that. It's time to revert these changes.
Hard to believe that a 30
Gina Menemsha/NYCHard to believe that a 30 minute longer open bar could have that much impact on a bar biz bottom line. Yes it’s a bit more revenue but with that comes increased overhead. So OB BOS are micro managing the bar biz ??
I owned and operated Obie's
Robert Skydell Antigua & EssaouiraI owned and operated Obie's Barbecue on Circuit Ave. back in the early 90's. After closing the restaurant each night we'd bolt the front entrance and watch the nightly mayhem unfold. Traffic was blocked at the foot of Circuit Ave. the "paddy wagon" would be stationed in the middle of the street and a phalanx of police officers would line up along the curb facing the bars, some wearing leather gloves, at the ready. Some nights were absolute bedlam, but the scene was rarely without incident until Chief Carter took over and more sensible policing was implemented.
Closing a half hour early strikes me as a reasonable accommodation and step in the right direction.
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