Downtown eateries get OK for later last calls, and a reimagining of Hoffman's

An image shown during last night's City Council meeting that sought to 'reimagine' what the inside of the old Hoffman's Furniture building would look like if transformed into an incubator-style bazaar. (Courtesy image)

ROCHESTER - City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow downtown restaurants to extend alcoholic beverage service till 1 a.m. with a last call a half hour earlier.

However, they were unable to come to a consensus on allowing outdoor entertainment at the same venues, instead noting that any group or restaurant could apply for a special entertainment permit through the City Manager's Office for a specific date.

There was much discussion on whether having three restaurants in close proximity all having groups performing would clash with each other.

The three establishments that received the most comment included North Main Street fixtures Mitchell Hill Barbecue, the Fallen Leaf and On the Rox Lounge. The Revolution, meanwhile, already has city permits to play in the former Factory Court, which now serves as their outdoor seating space.

Consideration for the allowance of outdoor music was sent back to committee which won't meet till next month pushing any City Council action back till September, but City Manager Blaine Cox said that any one of the three could apply for a special permit for a specific date.

Cox added that the Tuesday vote to expand outdoor dining and drinking hours also applies to all other restaurants in the city.

Another request to allow downtown restaurants to continue their outdoor dining beyond Oct. 31 was given little chance of coming to fruition due to the chance of stormy weather and the time it would take to move jersey barriers to allow for snowplows.

Meanwhile, the council voted to continue to meet remotely despite pleas from City Councilors Laura Hainey and David Walker to get back to the council's chambers at City Hall.

A host of councilors disagreed, arguing the situation with COVID-19 is too fluid to go back to council chambers so soon. Others said they wouldn't feel safe personally.

The vote was closer than thought with Walker, Hainey, Elaine Lauterborn and Mayor Caroline McCarley voting in a losing effort to go back to City Hall.

City Council also got its first insight into what may be in store for the old Hoffman Furniture on North Main that was recently purchased by the city for $350.000.

Consultant Kelly Davis said some early concepts that have been considered include a mix of temporary and permanent sub spaces on the North Main Street side that might spark more incubator spaces on the Union Street parking side where there might also be added vegetation and food service area.

Davis also said there would have to be infrastructure improvements that include upgrading bathroom to handle the traffic the building might attract.

"We envision an open bustling area with different vendors," Davis said.

City Manager Blaine Cox said nothing is set in granite and that the city may still consider selling the building to a developer, who would likely demolish the building and start from scratch.