MISHAWAKA – Starting Sept. 11, people will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages in marked glasses from several vendors and walk around an area of Ironworks Plaza.
The Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area Ordinance (DORA) was approved by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Starting September 11, people can go to Social Cantina, Mishawaka Public House or Sun King Brewery and purchase up to two beverages with stickers on the cups allowing them to take them into the designated area in Ironworks Plaza. Beverages from outside the county are prohibited.
In July, Mishawaka was added to a list of Indiana cities where people can enjoy open drinks in a designated area after the city council passed the ordinance to do so. A new state law allows cities and towns to set up districts where people can carry open drinks during certain times and days.
“We’re happy to be able to move this forward,” said Matthew Lentsch, director of development and government affairs. “We’re very happy for the community, for the merchants and for Mishawaka. We have a beautiful attraction and this gives people an additional incentive to come to Ironworks Plaza.”
According to the ordinance, people in the zone are allowed to buy and take away drinks from approved vendors. The area stretches roughly from Main Street on the east to Front Street (excluding the area south of The Mill) on the south, the parking lot behind the Ironworks Events Center on the west, and Beutter Park (but not the Riverwalk walkway) on the north.
The area is open only on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in compliance with the rules for outdoor alcoholic beverages.
There will be a “last call” policy whereby licensed vendors will not be allowed to serve drinks 30 minutes before the end of the DORA. The DORA also does not apply on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Bill John, general manager of the Mishawaka Public House, said his restaurant is ready for the new program.
“It’s business as usual for us,” he said. “We’re opening the garage doors and letting people in. We’ve got the staff trained and prepared, and that’s a great thing for everyone in the city, the state and everywhere.”
Related: City officials explore possibility of limited DORA for downtown South Bend
He said it was unfortunate that the program had taken until early fall to implement, but it was likely to be very popular, especially if the city could extend the program into the winter.
“Since the ice rink is already open, this would be the perfect time,” he said.
The ordinance established a trial period for DORA through Oct. 31. Lentsch said while this is a short period of time to observe the impact of the new outdoor space, the city will meet with the council’s Public Safety Committee after that period to evaluate the program.
Email Tribune Editor Greg Swiercz at [email protected].
