General Discussion

Floyd R. Turbo

(30,217 posts) Thu May 1, 2025, 09:06 PM Thursday

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

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

6 replies

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Highlight:

What could possibly go wrong?: Struggling California pedestrian mall pitches public drinking to boost business. (Original Post) Floyd R. Turbo Thursday OP

"Enliven" is one word for it senseandsensibility Thursday #1

8am seems a bit early to start that? Meowmee Thursday #2

Shop til you drop! bucolic_frolic Thursday #3

Sad to see the Third Street Promenade go so far downhill Zorro Thursday #4

I went there about two weeks ago cally Thursday #5

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

senseandsensibility

(21,866 posts)

1. "Enliven" is one word for it

Reply to Floyd R. Turbo (Original post)

Thu May 1, 2025, 09:08 PM

Thursday

And is it really necessary to start at 8 am?

Meowmee

(8,886 posts)

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

Reply to Floyd R. Turbo (Original post)

Thu May 1, 2025, 09:09 PM

Thursday

bucolic_frolic

(50,076 posts)

3. Shop til you drop!

Reply to Floyd R. Turbo (Original post)

Thu May 1, 2025, 09:12 PM

Thursday

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

Zorro

(17,309 posts)

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

Reply to Floyd R. Turbo (Original post)

Thu May 1, 2025, 09:16 PM

Thursday

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

(21,749 posts)

5. I went there about two weeks ago

Reply to Floyd R. Turbo (Original post)

Thu May 1, 2025, 09:16 PM

Thursday

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

(17,336 posts)

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