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Debate Over Proposed Downtown Winebar

Corkscrew wine bar wants to become a sophisticated place for wine and music in downtown Petaluma. But the police department says there are already too many bars in the area and that it will put more strain on officers

The city’s Planning Department is recommending against a proposed downtown wine bar, citing an already high concentration of businesses that serve alcohol.

Marin County resident Barbara Quilici-Rist wants to open a neighborhood wine bar called Corkscrew next to Water Street Bistro near the corner of Petaluma Boulevard North and Western Avenue. She envisions a “friendly” locale where customers can choose from a menu of appetizers and desserts and enjoy live music on the outdoor patio.

But the Petaluma Police Department says adding yet another drinking establishment to downtown will increase the already high number of calls for service, where police frequently respond to break up fights or people driving drunk.

In a review of the application, the police say that according to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the area should have only have eight establishments with liquor licenses. Presently, there are 66, or more than eight times the recommended number.

Quilici-Rist says Corkscrew would be different than many of the surrounding bars (like Andresen’s or Gayles) in that it would cater to an older clientele. In addition, the business would offer seminars and tastings to educate the public about fine wine and offer live guitar and jazz several times a week.

On Tuesday, the Petaluma Planning Commission will discuss the pros and cons of the business, which both the Petaluma Downtown Association and the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce are supporting.

“Petaluma made a commitment to establish a vibrant promenade with an emphasis on the river,” wrote Jeff Mayne, president of the PDA in a recent letter to the city. “Giving patrons a reason to enjoy a friendly gathering place outdoors is exemplified by the type of business proposed with “Corkscrew.”

Others agree.

Dave Alden is a civil engineer and Patch blogger who often writes about how to make urban spaces more “livable.” He says getting people downtown even after the restaurants have closed is good and will keep crime at bay.

“The proposed decision misses the point,” Alden said. “Yes, there is a crime and vandalism problem in the area in the late night hours, and yes, the problem is caused in large part by some of the places with alcohol licenses. But the best strategy to push back against lawlessness isn't police enforcement. It's putting more law-abiding people in the area. Eyes on the street matter.”

What's your take? Would you like to see a new wine bar with live music downtown? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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John.Maher June 11, 2012 at 11:14 am
Is Petaluma Pete's corner in jeopardy here? Will Corkscrew's live music have the same positive effect on people that you see in this video linked below? Will Petaluma Pete be asked to give up his corner of 5 years? Will the Petaluma families who routinely pile the kids into the car and drive downtown to visit Petaluma Pete stop coming? Will visitors no longer have Petaluma Pete to use as their information center when looking for suggestions on where to go and what to see? Will the random dancing and merriment at Western & Petaluma Blvd. be nothing more than a fond memory? - Maybe Corkscrew will hire Petaluma Pete and this story will have a happy ending? Film at 11. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73VLTE7P3vs
Karina Ioffee (Editor) June 11, 2012 at 11:43 am
Petaluma Pete: DO NOT WORRY. There is room for the both of you on that corner! Plus, you play in the daytime and they plan to have music in the evenings. In other words, non-stop entertainment at PBN and Western! But if you're concerned, go speak at Planning Commission Tuesday at 7pm.
John.Maher June 11, 2012 at 11:58 am
Actually, that Rascal Petaluma Pet plays from 6 to 9 Friday and Saturday nights. :-)
Grace Bogart June 11, 2012 at 12:02 pm
There is a "bar culture" in downtown Petaluma -especially on weekend nights- that many residents don't know about, mainly because they are not there at that time. The clientele for these bars is decidedly different than the kind of people who frequent the downtown during the days and early evenings, and I think many Petalumans would be surprised by what they saw if they came down in the late evening. A wine bar would attract a different kind of late night patron. It's going to be interesting, the melding of these two types; it might lead to more of an awareness of what's happening in our town after we are tucked safely into bed, which is a good thing. Petaluma downtown is an odd mix; the present bar scene is part of that odd. It's all part of our charm: you want orderly, Marin is that way. But it's important that we are aware of the many facets of our town; knowledge is power.
John.Maher June 11, 2012 at 12:24 pm
You are correct Grace. I see this downtown transition between 6 and 9 every weekend. Love the mood change and sometimes change the music to fit. Mostly major to minor chords. :-)
Barry Bussewitz June 11, 2012 at 02:15 pm
I have the idea that the late night "bar culture" from which some problems apparently arise is a different set from many of the other licensed establishments nearby, such as Dempsey's, Water Street Bistro, Wild Goat Bistro, & Graffiti. How often are police calls directed there? Wouldn't terminating off-sale licenses in that area make sense, as well as attracting an older clientele (Corkscrew) to mitigate the bar scene?
Frank Simpson June 11, 2012 at 02:27 pm
"...the police say that according to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the area should have only have eight establishments with liquor licenses. Presently, there are 66, or more than eight times the recommended number."
66 bars? At this point what IS the point in not having one more???:-)
Joel Smith June 11, 2012 at 02:51 pm
Why is no one addressing the fact that this Marinite is opening up on top of Water Street Bistro???!!!! How rude!!!! Obviously she has no couth about stepping on locals toes, or even any sense what Petaluma is really about. But heres the best part...in ten yrs, all that "downtown riff raff" will be in their thirties and forties and another generation will have taken their place. Anyone remember Steamer Golds?! Or The Bottom Line? Petaluma has a history of being pretty crazy at night, something that probably never even occured to these pampered and washed priviliged. So heres my suggestion...wanna open a bar in Ptown? Try hangin out with the folks that will be your customers. Maybe you'll figure out that we really dont need another wine bar. Maybe try south of that county line honey. Or Healdsburg.
Joel Smith June 11, 2012 at 02:58 pm
66 liquor licenses...hmm that must make a lot of taxes...go figure. Takes a lot of riff raff money to keep this town beautiful it seems....lol. Marin go home. :)
Stinky June 11, 2012 at 03:21 pm
There's advantages to having all the "watering holes" in one area:
• Police don't have far to drive to get there. Chances are they're already there. • Bar patrons who want to try another atmosphere can walk, instead of drive to another bar. I'm sure there are other advantages. Will another wine bar take away customers from local bistros? I'm not sure. Different hours of operation I imagine.
Karina Ioffee (Editor) June 11, 2012 at 04:15 pm
It's 66 establishments with liquor licenses in that census track. Also, Kodiak Jack's just informed Patch that they are moving to Santa Rosa and their venue, a little further north on the boulevard, is available and comes with a liquor license. Just sayin...
John.Maher June 11, 2012 at 04:33 pm
I see more tipsy pedestrians after 10:00 PM on that corner than a frat house kegger and to say it's more "riff raff" is just not the case.
Every race, color, creed and income level rolls by, evenly distributed, many higher than a Georgia pine and pretty much loving the moment. Petaluma Pete addresses this with a "Don't Drink & Drive" banner right there on the 'ol 88s and, frankly, these folks are as much fun to watch as they are to play for. See it here: http://goo.gl/CH4QQ In over 5 years, I have never had one problem with anyone, drinking or dry. Truth is, downtown Petaluma is many things to many visitors depending on the time of day. Rowdy partiers before 11:00 in the morning are not to be found and most responsible parents are home with their children long before11:00 at night... as it should be. Come on down. It's all good.
Marv Cantwell June 11, 2012 at 07:35 pm
What about the fights? I live downtown, I see what goes on every weekend. I hear the yelling and the music, the people that tear out trees turn over planters, screaching tires and Motorcycles with pipes so loud that you can hear them for 1/2 mile. I think that if you want to have another bar in town you need to see this for yourself. Oh and did I mention the trash, vomit, pissing on walls and planters? I was down on the street 1 night and watched a girl lift her skirt and piss in the planter at BofA. But the city will get income so it wont matter to them what happens to the people who live here. they are not effected by it all. We have even had shootings down here.
John.Maher June 11, 2012 at 07:52 pm
Yes Marv. From Pittsburg to Portland, suburb to city, people are people.
They fight, they screech, they do all sorts of unsavory things in every town, large and small, coast to coast. Personally, I can only compare Petaluma to every other town I have lived in over the years, from E. St. Louis to South Chicago to Meridian, Mississippi to Los Angeles, Dallas, Oceanside, Youngstown, ... Petaluma has it so far ahead of these other places all I can do is smile and thank my lucky stars to be living here. But that's just me. :-)
Jax June 11, 2012 at 08:59 pm
Let me see if I understand this correctly... The city of Petaluma has an issue with a Wine Bar downtown, but is perfectly OK with the HEAD SHOP... Unreal!
I see what Wine Bars have done to downtown Healdsburg and the Sonoma Square and can't believe this is even an issue or concern.
Marv Cantwell June 11, 2012 at 09:15 pm
I am sorry I thought this was debate about petaluma and the bars. I hope you will forgive me. I will not post again.
Ned Ludd June 11, 2012 at 10:26 pm
When a head shop leads to street fights and DUIs you might have a point, Jax. Having said that, yeah, I don't see the problem. I do care that Water Street might be negatively affected, but it seems like a different set of hours for each venue. I support the actions of the ABC? in regulating more problematic establishments but limiting a wine bar seems to be a classic misunderstanding of problem and solution.
Petaluma Seer June 12, 2012 at 06:32 am
Sophisticated Wine and Music Bar? Bring it on! Sounds like it would add to the community. Where are the "We want Target and Lowes" mentality people now? This Bar would bring $$$ to the Chamber of Commerce. BTW, there are already many Marinites here. So, I don't see why not. The police said they did not believe that a Home Improvement center on North McDowell would require more police, although we know another shopping center there would definietley bring what the Kohl's and other North McDowell Shopping Centers bring. Yep, more crime. They ignored that. So......why not this upscale Bar? Ya can't have it both ways, so poney up the greenlight.
tony June 12, 2012 at 11:38 am
Pete is mobile. This permit shouldn't be approved or denied because of our good friend Pete.
tony June 12, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Anyone remember Holidaze? The brawls sometimes spilled out onto Petaluma Blvd. like some scene in a madcap Mel Brooks movie! Now its Central Market restaurant, and I call that a big improvement.
I think that there IS a difference in clientele between this proposal and say, Gayle's Central Club in terms of behavioral problems and Police calls. How many D&D arrests down at the wine bar in Theater Square? Vine & Barrel draining manpower from the PD? I will defer to "Pete's" observations about the diversity of the people, and the intoxicated people; he's the man on the scene and sees more than the cops can, but unless he corrects me here I'm assuming its different folks puking and brawling and whatnot. There definitely is an impact to alcohol sales, but denying this permit won't improve the situation or 'protect' us. As to "Marin Outsiders", uh, well, that seems like a bit of a lame attitude. We're you here first? Want to keep 'em out? Yeah, so are you Miwok or Pomo? 'Cuz otherwise, you weren't here first. And since Water Street doesn't do dinners very often, how does a neighboring business infringe?
Active Thinker June 12, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I agree...go down there after the bars close at 2 and see people walking around wasted...alot of damage is done at that time...do we really need more bars downtown..what are we saying to our kids with a bar every block? How many do we need?
John.Maher June 12, 2012 at 02:59 pm
I just hope Petaluma Pete's piano music on Friday and Saturday nights does not create a conflict for Corkscrew's desire to include live music outside their establishment unless, of course, they wanna commission Petaluma Pete to do the honors. Getting paid would be a rare departure for sure.
This random video found on the internet is an accurate example of what is happening now on that corner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73VLTE7P3vs However, the whole idea behind the Petaluma Pete character is to help promote Petaluma businesses. Therefore, if it is no longer a good fit at that location, perhaps Putnam Plaza or out in front of Lala's might be a nice change after all these years. Either way, all good. Just happy to be here and to be interacting with this great little town regardless of how much or how little it drinks. :-)
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Betty Harrison June 18, 2013 at 11:56 am
We have failed our kids who are now in their 20s. The jobs they should have are not there and no oneRead More seems to care. What you are seeing is the underground economy, which is how they survive. No, it's not good, but it is how they are surviving. Talk to your Congressional representatives! They want real jobs and real lives!
You are fun!
Drew Himmelstein (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 06:32 pm
Looks like some fun kids AND a fun dad!
FREE Family Fun in the Theatre District
Bookworm June 7, 2013 at 08:46 am
I think that showing The Hunger Games in this venue is a mistake. These outdoor family film showingsRead More do attract families, and frequently families with younger children. It would be close to child abuse to permit a younger child to watch this movie. Not so sure it would be a good idea for teens either. I believe that this choice was not well thought out. I hope it can be changed to something that would be beneficial for all ages to see. For example, I recommend a film called "Like Stars on Earth" directed by Aamir Khan. A very moving and thoughtful film.