What could possibly go wrong?: Struggling California pedestrian mall pitches public drinking to boost business.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

The Santa Monica City Council is considering a proposal to allow public drinking on the Third Street Promenade in an effort to revitalize the struggling pedestrian mall, which still hasn’t fully rebounded from the pandemic.

The plan would allow visitors to buy drinks from local bars and restaurants and walk around with them in a designated area between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. daily.

Andrew Thomas, CEO of Downtown Santa Monica, backs the initiative.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Thomas told KTLA. “It could really enliven the area.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/struggling-california-pedestrian-mall-pitches-233048637.html

[senseandsensibility]

1. "Enliven" is one word for it

And is it really necessary to start at 8 am?

[Meowmee]

2. 8am seems a bit early to start that?

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Shop til you drop!

I wonder what % of people use a nipping bottle already? (meaning a hidden, mini-flask packed with live alcohol-ammo).

[Zorro]

4. Sad to see the Third Street Promenade go so far downhill

Twenty years ago it was quite a pleasant and lively stroll, with lots of bustling stores. Went there last year for the first time in a while and it was pretty moribund, with an excellent band playing mid-mall about the only thing there livening things up.

Allowing public drinking is only going to contribute to its ongoing decline.

[cally]

5. I went there about two weeks ago

and it is a dying pedestrian mall. I’m generally completely opposed to focusing on alcohol sales for reviving downtowns but I think I support it here. The mall is dominated by bars already and is a couple of blocks from the Santa Monica Pier with mostly tourists. I thought that it needed more outside activities in the mall and this might help.

[usonian]

6. California recently made it easier to convert strip (*) malls into housing units.

(*) Not what you are thinking.