Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Some of the City of Buffalo's most unique eateries and bars are open as late as 4 o'clock in the morning. While the nightlife scene tends to last into the early hours of the morning for most, recent shootings occurring outside of bars have prompted discussions of safety, and the possibility of an universal closing time.
"I'm all for 2 o'clock closing on the weekends," said Conor Hawkins, owner of Banshee Irish Pub on Franklin Street, who notes that bail reform has emboldened criminals.
"Criminals are getting bolder, and they don't give a damn [about] police or whatever else. I don't really think that it matters much about the time, I think it's gonna happen anyways. [However], if the bars closed a little bit earlier, that'd probably help with better police presence around the neighborhoods."
Less than a month ago, Del Denby Tavern on Hertel Avenue was ordered to cease operations after a 46-year-old man was shot outside the establishment at around 1 a.m. ET.
Just last week, three men, all in their 20s, were transported to ECMC for non-life threatening injuries after shots were fired outside a bar on the 1100 block of Elmwood after some type of preceding altercation. Officers responded to the call around 2:30 a.m. ET.
Although Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia notes that liability increases after 2 a.m. ET for a lot of establishments, his concerns rely more on the type of security and safety protocols that bars and restaurants have during their later hours.
"If there's trouble brewing, if there's people they are serving that are overly intoxicated, where they notice that something is happening, what are they doing to prevent it? Are they removing problem people? Are they calling the police ahead of a potential incident that may happen? Do they have licensed security guards? Do they have a proper plan in place for their security in the event that something happens? There is a responsibility on their part to maintain a safe environment for the customers, but also their employees as well," said Gramaglia on Tuesday.
Not even a month ago, two Banshee Irish Pub employees who came from Ireland on work visas were held at gunpoint outside the bar. The scene was captured on video surveillance. They were out having drinks with a group of people over the weekend, celebrating a Buffalo Bandits win and they walked back to the bar after 4 a.m. ET to wait for an Uber.
"We make sure that we walk our staff to their cars and we have proper security here, you know, but obviously, once the bar closes, and it's 4:30 in the morning, there's only so much you can do," Hawkins noted.
Commissioner Gramaglia notes that police are making progress in regards to last weekend's Elmwood shooting and "people are cooperating." The police continue to investigate into that particular case.
