Why can't we make an exception for Artmosphere?

Consider Artmosphere.

As we know, Artmosphere has grown up from an artist supply business, into a restaurant, and now as one of the cooler music venues in town that attracts all ages, all genres of music and good times, always.

The shows over the years have exposed bands to new audiences and audiences to new bands. And the food is as funky as the atmosphere, which usually is a good thing.

We need more places that are a little of both restaurant/bar that serve up food and live music in a comfortable, safe environment — it's a locale that can and does bring all kinds of people together.

Artmosphere has been in the news lately for not meeting the 51 percent food sale requirement to remain a restaurant; and for being too close to a school to be allowed to be a bar.

It's a Catch-22 for not only the establishment, but for the town as well; there is no other place like Artmosphere and what it offers to the community overall.

So for that dilemma, allow me to play the Roddie Romero card.

In 1992, when the Romero was a young music prodigy, the Roddie Romero Bill allowed him — and others since, including Hunter Hayes — to perform in bars before he was legally old enough to enter one. Of course, the youngsters have to be accompanied by a parent and guardian.

According to a recent story by our own Megan Wyatt, even if Artmosphere could get some kind of an exception to an ordinance that capped the number of bars in the Central Business District through the city council, City-Parish President Joey Durel says he would probably veto it.

Durel said it wouldn't be fair to grandfather the bar in since it opened as a restaurant.

"That's why they're in trouble," Durel said in the story. "They're supposed to be a restaurant. I feel for them, but we all have rules."

I've never heard a gunshot at Artmosphere. I've never seen a knife fight at Artmosphere. You can't say that about some of other bars downtown and that is a fact. One club had its doors closed due to violence.

I'm not one to say that rules are made to be broken; but they can be bent (see: Roddie Romero Bill).

"When you start bending the rules for one person, how do you say no to anybody else?" Durel asked in the story. "If we change this, we might as well just do away with the ordinance altogether and see what happens to downtown."

Really, Joey? And gay marriage will have people wedded to their pets. Factually speaking, since the Roddie Romero Bill was enacted, I haven't seen underage kids allowed in bars. And when they do sneak in, the business ends up on the wrong side of the law.

There is an outcome here that is good for everyone involved if only common sense will prevail.

Well, almost everyone. There is a rumor going around town that there's a certain someone behind the filing of the complaints against Artmosphere who has had their eyes on the business.

If this is true and Artmosphere is forced to close its doors, here's a heads up: You will never get this person's business and I'll encourage others to boycott, too — although it won't take much from what I've heard — and that ain't no rumor, either.