‘We would not survive this.’ What Doral nightspots say about call for early closures

Doral business owners are saying Mayor Christi Fraga’s proposal to limit late-night alcohol sales could kill bars and nightclubs.

Fraga is touting the changes, including ending alcohol sales at 1:30 a.m. and closing bars at 2 a.m., as necessary public safety measures in the wake of the April 6 mass shooting at Martini Bar that left two dead and seven injured.

But some business owners and managers told the Miami Herald Fraga’s proposal, set to be considered by the Doral City Council on Wednesday, could deal a crushing blow to their establishments.

“We would not survive this hit,” said Louis J. Terminello, co-owner of Martini Bar.

When Fraga presents nearly a dozen changes to the city’s current alcoholic beverages ordinance, she may be met with resistance. When asked about it, three council members told the Miami Herald that they do not agree with moving quickly and broadly on restricting businesses.

Fraga is naming her ordinance after security guard George Alejandro Castellano, who was killed in the shooting at Martini Bar in CityPlace Doral. Alleged shooter James Wayne Wood was also killed.

Most of Fraga’s proposed amendments aim to increase safety measures by requiring cameras, private security and weapon detection systems — which the vast majority of Doral bars and nightclubs already implement.

Read more: Fraga seeks to amend ‘ambiguous’ Doral law to prevent shootings like Martini Bar

However, some businesses said they take issue with Fraga wanting to stop alcohol sales at 1:30 a.m. and close their establishments at 2 a.m.

A city analysis provided by Fraga shows that at least seven Doral bars and nightclubs would be impacted by the 2 a.m. closure. Other businesses must already close before 2 a.m.

The Herald spoke to managers and owners at five of those establishments who said the early closure could negatively affect them.

Nearly all painted a similar picture of Doral if Fraga’s amendment was passed: the death of nightlife.

Early closures may lead to businesses failing

Martini Bar Doral, one in a chain of nightlife establishments, is at the heart of the discussion of the city imposing changes to bars and nightclubs.

Following the shooting, the first gun-related incident in the chain’s more than 35-year history, the bar has already implemented stronger security measures — which all fall in line with the mayor’s proposal, co-owner Terminello said.

When Terminello learned the mayor wanted to force Martini Bar and others to close early every night, he could not understand the decision.

Terminello, who is an experienced attorney and chair of law firm Greenspoon Marder’s hospitality, alcohol and leisure industry group, emphasized cities haven’t enacted early closures on movie theaters, schools, supermarkets and big box retailers — all of whom he said have had mass shootings.

“A preliminary study we conducted shows most of our weekend sales are from 1 to 3:30 a.m,” Terminello said. “To take that away from us would eventually put us out of business.”

He also said he doesn’t believe residents would favor such a closure. Patrons would travel outside Doral to nightlife businesses that wouldn’t kick them out during a prime outing time.

“Residents aren’t going to want to go out in Doral,” he said. “People aren’t going to want to come out because they can’t stay.”

Jesus Lugo, a manager for Baru Doral Resto-Bar, told the Herald his business would also have negative effects from an early closure.

“It’s going to be a hard hit,” Lugo said, characterizing the financial strain Baru Doral will take.

Regarding the other safety measures, he said the business is already in full compliance if it were enacted. Given the older patron crowd, the general atmosphere of Baru Doral is “calm.”

Lugo was proud of the club’s security guards, who he said are constantly vigilant and use earpieces to communicate constantly.

“Alcohol and drugs are very complicated to deal with in a club,” Lugo said. “But fights are uncommon.”

Billiard halls, bowling alleys caught up in debate

While bowling alleys and billiard halls would not have to follow the proposed safety restrictions, the early closure and alcohol stoppage still apply.

Only a handful of billiard halls and bowling alleys are doing business in Doral. When the Herald spoke to the manager of Doral Billiards & Sports Bar, who did not want to be named, he was puzzled by Fraga’s decision.

“The shooting happened at a club where people usually can’t handle their drinks and probably had too much,” he said, explaining he expected the closure to only apply to clubs and bars.

While the business would not have to follow the safety measures, he still believes they are “heavy-handed.” Especially the forced early closure.

The restrictions “are going to scare people away from Doral,” the manager said. “I think [the mayor] is going too heavy with this and is just scared.”

The billiard hall will see its largest crowds around the new closure time and will be financially affected, he said.

Kings Dining and Entertainment, a bowling alley in CityPlace Doral where the shooting occurred, will also be forced into following the restrictions.

A floor manager told the Herald the establishment had already spoken to the city but did not clarify who they talked with or what the conversation was about.

“Whatever the city decides, we are happy to comply,” the manager said.

‘We can’t make radical decisions’

The debate has echoes of a similar fight in Miami Beach that has dragged on for years. Following the approval of a non-binding referendum to ban alcohol sales after 2 a.m. in 2021, the Beach government has struggled to implement the restrictions in the heart of South Beach’s entertainment district.

The Doral City Council is expected to have a lively debate.

Councilmember Digna Cabral told the Herald Fraga’s desire to close nightlife establishments earlier confuses her.

Cabral sees the mayor’s proposals as a knee-jerk reaction to garner support come re-election, she said. They do not take into account how businesses will be affected.

“We can’t make radical decisions when we should be seeing how to work better with everybody,” Cabral said.

In light of the mass shooting, Cabral does want to have an open conversation with nightlife establishments on how to ensure weapons do not become an issue, but not at the expense of businesses.

“I would rather our kids be in Doral than in Miami Beach or Wynwood because they can’t socialize until certain hours,” she said.

Fraga rejects the claim her proposed amendment is politically motivated. She said her intentions come from the residents.

“I’m simply the voice that carries the resident’s proposals,” she said. “If other council members have an issue with it, they can say it at the dais.”

The Herald also spoke to Councilmember Maureen Porras in early April, who agreed that any business restrictions should be taken slowly.

Vice Mayor Oscar Puig-Corve told the Herald that bars and nightclubs could improve their security, but any change from the city to the few establishments allowed to stay open late should be made with the businesses in mind.

“A tragic death can happen at any time,” Puig-Corve said. “While we could do better with security, as there is always room for improvement, let’s not make this political.”

Fraga emphasized the early closure is not because of one mass shooting but also to stem the tide of noise complaints, drunk drivers and other fallout from late drinking.

“My job is to take action,” she said. “I’m doing the job.”