Restaurants, bars and nightclubs will be allowed to stay open an
hour later under a trial program aimed at bringing late-night order
to downtown streets.
San Jose – Restaurants, bars and nightclubs will be allowed to stay open an hour later under a trial program aimed at bringing late-night order to downtown streets.
The city council on Tuesday approved the program to allow downtown businesses to remain open until 3 a.m., 90 minutes after they stop selling alcohol. Previously, they were required to kick customers out by 2 a.m.
Officials hope the change will allow patrons to sober up before driving home and ease the strain on police officers often overwhelmed by the 2 a.m. exodus.
After a three-month trial period, the council will decide whether to make the hours permanent or extend the program for another 90 days.
The extended hours are part of a broader strategy to revitalize San Jose’s downtown and transform it into a 24-hour social hub.
“We want to have a safe downtown that’s vital, active and a place where people want to come,” Councilman Forrest Williams said. “We will get there, and we will have a vibrant downtown.”
