ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando city commissioners are set to approve further restrictions on nightclubs in downtown on Aug. 12, but the move comes at a price, according to a multi-venue group.
John SanFelippo is the managing partner of The Beacham in Downtown Orlando, as well as the six venues creating The Block.
He said that since the city passed an after-midnight permit for nightclubs, he’s had to lay off dozens of workers.
“Before the after-midnight permit, I had 300 employees. With the fees for what I pay for (the Orlando Police Department), I’ve had to lay off over 100 people. Small businesses are supposed to help create jobs, not take away jobs,” SanFelippo told News 6.
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The business said it is paying an extra fee of about $40,000 each month for Orlando police services.
“Sometimes $10,000 a week for nine officers,” SanFelippo said. “Not assigned to my building. I don’t have one officer that I pay for out of that nine that is stationed outside of my building.”
He also echoed the concerns Commissioner Tony Ortiz expressed on Monday regarding OPD reporting the majority of disturbances are not happening inside venues, but rather in parking areas.
Orlando passed its ban on new bars downtown in March 2023. A more permanent solution is expected to pass on Aug.12. A first reading passed on Monday with only Commissioner Ortiz in opposition.
The new version also includes restricting bars to be located no closer than 300 feet from each other. The city compares that to about one per city block. Officials said the current 48 bars listed by the city will be grandfathered in.
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