PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — With a huge summer on tap for Philadelphia, a new opportunity to stay open two hours later than usual is now in the mix.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed a bill into law that will allow some Philadelphia bars to remain open until as late as 4 a.m. from June 11 to July 20, coinciding with the World Cup games, the MLB All-Star Game in South Philadelphia, and America’s 250th celebrations in the city.
However, in order to stay open late, businesses will need to obtain a temporary permit called the ‘Philadelphia 250’ permit from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Raheem Manning is the senior director of nighttime economy for the Philadelphia Department of Commerce.
He told Action News, “This tool, this permit that businesses are able to apply for, gives them the opportunity to capture that market that’s going to be here.”
The city launched the first step to getting that permit on Thursday.
First, eligible businesses will have to apply for a business license on the city’s eCLIPSE website.
Then, after completing the application and paying a fee, their management and owner staff must attend the in-person ‘Liberty Bell Safe Certification Program.’
Once they complete the program and receive a certificate, they will submit that with an application to the state’s liquor control board. Manning said the board will issue permits to businesses that qualify within 30 days.
In order to receive a permit, Philadelphia businesses need to meet a list of requirements. That full list is available on the city’s website.
Artem Ustayev, one of the owners of Midnight & The Wicked, called this a ‘phenomenal opportunity.’ However, he said the process to apply for a permit is extensive.
Ustayev told Action News, “It’s not easy, everyone can’t just get this license… It’s very, very particular who they are going to allow.”
Ustayev and his co-CEO, Joshua Tourdot, have already applied for a permit and are now planning for additional staffing in the hopes they are granted one.
They said the two extra hours of business would be incredibly beneficial for their business.
“I think it’s extremely important that they do rigorous vetting and make sure that only the top selection gets it so the city looks good on the world stage because that’s where we’re going to be,” Tourdot said.
The city said it understands that not all businesses will be interested in applying for this permit.
Manning said, “Some people are personally choosing that this isn’t the best business decision for them and their model.”
“We don’t expect a 4 a.m. free-for-all. We have a lot of guardrails in place to make sure that businesses who do apply, and who do permit, that it makes sense not only for that business but for the surrounding areas,” he added.
The owners of The Ave nightclub on Christopher Columbus Boulevard have applied for a permit, too. They’re now envisioning what a longer night could mean for their bottom line.
“The liquor laws in Philly haven’t changed in a really long time, and this is an opportunity, I think, for businesses to make some extra money,” co-owner Joshua Zwirzina said.
Businesses interested in applying for a permit have until April 14 to do so.
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