Stix

 It looks as if Stix may reopen sometime later this year.  I see work done on the outside and Dyvx on the outside and I remember seeing an application before the Liquor Control Commission earlier this year for a transfer of a liquor license to the location.

Stix

 From the agenda for this week's city council meeting, it looks as if the owner is planning to do work on the long shuttered Stix building. I certainly hope so as that would be one fewer building getting dilpaidated in the downtown area.

Also on the agenda is a similar request for a TIF agreement at 213 N. Washington, just south of the  WDBX radio station. and for 108 East Oak, which is the WDBX station.  Since these TIF requests are all part of the consent agenda, unless a council member requests an item get considered individually, they will all get passed with one motion. 

Liquor Licenses

 Looks as if Chalky's, just off New Era Road, which shut down last November, is seeking to reopen and applying for a renewed liquor license at next week's city council meeting. Same for Stix, which shut down last November and appearenty will open back up under new ownership should the license get approved.

Stix

 Stix is trying to reopen yet again. According to this, the current holder of the liquor license no longer has any connection with the business. The new applicant, Greg Knoob, has either owned or been associated with several bars in Carbondale over th eyears, including previous incarnations of Stix as well as Levels. Based on past experience, city staff recommended denial of the license application.

Stix' status remains up in the air as the Liquor Control Commission canceled its meeting last night, due to the applicant not being able to attend.

Stix

 Apparently Stix has closed down again for the forseeable future.According to a post on the bar's Facebook page, it closed the weekend of Sept 14 and will not be reopening, at least not under the current ownership

Stix

Drove through downtown after the Off the Rails Concert ended (Did not attend the concert but I was working late) and noticed that, while there was a decent amount of foot traffic in the Hangar 9 and Trax area, Stix was closed. I have not heard if they got hit with any citations or maybe they were opening even later than 10 in the evening. still, since I have seen a line out the door earlier in the semester, it seems stranges to see the place shuttered on a Saturday night.

Stix

 Stix has reopened but looks like very late and limited hours. According to Google, only open Thursday Friday and Saturday and then only 9 p.m. 2 a.m.  As the bard targets students heavily, the end of the semester may not have been the best time to reopen but it does give them the summer to get any bugs worked out.

Stix

Appears that Stix will be reopening in its original downtown locations, sometime within the next month. Spoke with one of the people involved in the business who said they have done extensive remodeling on the South Illinois location. He was not sure how the rumor that Stix was moving to the Levels location on East Grand but that is not happening.

Polar Bear

This year's Polar Bear event appeared fairly quiet, though there was a heavy police presence. I drove out by the area on East Grad about 10 p.m. Saturday night and the sidewalks and lots were full. Winston's Bagels appeared doing a steady business as did Don Taco and I counted 3 police vehicles passing the area within as many minutes.  I did hear a report of pepper grenades requested alter in the evening, but whether they were used or not, I don't know. The crime map for the weekend does show a number of events in the area.

Compared to that area, the Strip was dead, in spite of the assorted "Puck Finch" events. Fat patties, Stix and Pags were all pretty empty, though I did see a small crowd at Sidetracks. It will be interesting to find out how booked the hotels were this year.

Polar Bear

Drove past Pinch Penny Pub and through downtown Carbondale about 10 p.m. Saturday night. Crowds were huge in the Pinch Penny area as well as the water and heat stations set up nearby. While I didn't see any police vehicles in the area, I did notice an ambulance parked across the street from Pinch and I understand from a couple of hospital employees that the ERs were packed with lots of drunks and at least one overdose.

Delivery restaurants apparently were quite busy as well, as I heard that one place had over $1000 just in voids on Saturday, caused by canceled orders or delivery people not being able to find the address.  Downtown C'dale on Saturday night looked fairly busy, with more people out walking/staggering on S. Illinois than I have seen in awhile and the first line waiting to get into Stix since I don't remember when.  No idea what the occupancy rate was on hotel rooms or if they filled as they reportedly did last year.

I expect the council will discuss Polar Bear and similar events at its meeting tomorrow night, especially since a discussion regarding reducing liquor license caps and ending the Halloween closure of three bars in downtown are on the agenda.  Mayor Fritzler is not really thrilled about events such as Polar Bear and word is he may push for an end to it and similar alcohol fueled activities.

Liquor Violations

Even with Polar Bear, Pinch Penny Pub managed to come in behind Stix in the number of liquor violations reported by C'dale police for January 1 through March 31. Pinch Penny only had 41, while Stix racked up 58.  Cali's was the only other liquor establishment to break into double digits, with 21. Every other place serving or selling alcohol in C'dale reported fewer than 10 violations, with most reporting 0.