Jenna Pizzi

The News Journal

A bill in the General Assembly would create a special liquor license allowing beer gardens.

Beer gardens now are allowed to operate under special daily permits for specific events.

The legislation is seen as an important economic development tool.

A bill in the General Assembly would create a special liquor license allowing beer gardens to pop up for months at a time.

The legislation was introduced by state Rep. Helene Keeley, D-Wilmington South, who said outdoor spaces for drinking will keep downtowns and city centers bustling and attractive after work hours during the week and during the weekends.

"The idea ties into the push for downtown development," she said.

Currently under the state's liquor laws, beer gardens are allowed to operate under special daily permits for specific events. The bill would require that the beer gardens be open for at least five consecutive months.

Keeley said there was great interest specifically in Wilmington in the past for special events that included outdoor beer gardens and believes more permanent ones could be successful.

"I could see something like this in Rodney Square or Willingtown Square," Keeley said. "I could see Milford saying OK and get more people to come to their downtown."

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Keeley said she was approached by the Buccini/Pollin Group about the need for new legislation to allow beer gardens. The development firm, which has been behind residential development along Market Street and on the Riverfront, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Buccini/Pollin had previously been involved in plans with Scott Morrison, the late owner of Chelsea Tavern on Market Street, about opening a beer garden adjacent to the tavern.

Beer gardens have been very popular in Philadelphia in recent years where the outdoor watering holes fill spaces that would otherwise be a vacant lot.

"Ten or 15 years ago, everyone wanted to open a brewery," Keeley said. "This is kind of taking that to the next step."

John Medkef Jr., a Delaware beer historian, said he thinks the idea will be a boon to small breweries who struggle to get on the tap at larger bars.

"Most of the breweries need all the help in the marketplace they can get," said Medkef. "Certainly this will spur growth for them."

"This could transform the landscape for craft beer in Delaware," said Ronnie Price, the owner of Blue Earl Brewing Co. in Smyrna. "Down on the beach, you could rent a little spot and allow vendors to set up food carts. It could be like food trucks for the beer scene."

Criag Wensell, president and CEO of Bellefont Brewing Co. in Marshallton, said he sees a fantastic opportunity for Wilmington to catch up to other states that have seen real benefits from allowing these kinds of beer gardens as attractions.

"Traveling around the country, the thing is in the craft beer community it is not just the beer that is really good," said Wensell. "It is that the atmosphere is really cool. Delaware is just starting to come to grips with how cool some of these can be."

But Carrie Leishman, president of the Delaware Restaurant Association, said she has some serious questions and concerns about the proposal because it does not include specific requirements relating to public safety. Leishman said for single events outdoors, it is easy to hire security or police to work security, but the beer garden license does not require that these establishments have security guards.

"I think the bill is really flawed because it opens up a can of worms by offering this really vague liquor license," she said.

Paul Ogden, the owner of the "Famous" chain of bars in New Castle County, said he's concerned that the pop-up bars will impact the business of more traditional bars and restaurants.

"Twenty-five picnic tables, a few porta potties and you are open business," Ogden said. "And they are competing against businesses like mine where we are paying rents, paying bills and putting roots down in the community."

Ogden said the beer gardens will put bars out of business.

"They are not creating new people to go out, they are just taking the business from somebody else," Ogden said. "If they want to get in the taproom business, rent a place, build a place and get into business and do it."

Marty Hageman, executive director of Wilmington's Downtown Visions, said he sees the outdoor establishments as a boon to local businesses because they will keep people in the city and foot traffic moving downtown.

"I don't believe in placing them in front of an existing bar or restaurant, but it can supplement and enhance the offerings," said Hageman, who said Downtown Visions has been in discussions with other entities for a beer garden in the Central Business District if the legislation is passed.

Hageman said the opportunity to establish beer gardens will only help the city's efforts to attract young professionals into Wilmington.

"It is one of the things that we would like to provide for our new residents," said Hageman. "We would like to ensure that the things that they like doing are within walking distance. It is just another quotient of our fun factor."

Bill Sharp, who owns The Gray Hare in Rehoboth Beach, said he thinks that the beer gardens will raise a host of issues in enforcement for the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

"It is becoming a free for all out there," Sharp said."It is an unfair advantage to everybody in the business for them to be able to do that for 7 months or nine months out of the year."

However, Sharp and Ogden agreed that if the bill is passed they will have to get in on the action and open up beer gardens.

"I've got to get in the game, too," said Ogden.

Contact Jenna Pizzi at jpizzi@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2837. Follow her on Twitter @JennaPizzi

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