Downtown drinking district comes to Kalamazoo

If you want to buy a drink but don’t feel safe in a restaurant, you’re in luck.

Thanks to new rules from the state, cities can create “social districts” in areas populated by restaurants and bars. In them, patrons can buy alcohol in one business and drink it outdoors anywhere in the district.

Kalamazoo launched its downtown social district Friday, in time for the Labor Day weekend.

Currently Kalamazoo’s district only includes five businesses:

• Harvey’s on the Mall
• Olde Peninsula Brewpub & Restaurant
• Radisson Plaza Hotel
• Tempo Vino Winery
• The Stamped Robin

According to the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership, at least five more establishments are working on their permits.

The district covers much of downtown Kalamazoo along the Kalamazoo Mall and Michigan Avenue. It is marked by signs and is open 10am to 10pm Sundays through Thursdays and 10am to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

To qualify, alcoholic drinks have to be served in clearly marked cups.