Redwood City is getting serious about letting people stroll through part of downtown with a drink in hand. City staff is asking the City Council to sign off on a pilot "entertainment zone" on the 200 block of Broadway that would let customers of participating bars and restaurants carry alcoholic drinks within a marked-off public area. If the council approves, staff say the ordinance could kick in as early as June 10, with a limited test run this summer.
The draft plan names a who’s-who of the Broadway pedestrian mall: Pizzeria Cardamomo, Nighthawk, Vino Santo, Vesta, LV Mar Tapas and Cocktails, Blacksmith, Bao, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, and Von's Chicken. Under the proposed rules, any drink consumed inside the zone would have to be sold by a licensed business located in that zone, and those businesses would need to opt in. Staff and volunteers would be stationed at the mall's entrances and exits to keep people from carrying outside alcohol in or out, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal.
The idea rides on a 2024 state law that opened the door for local entertainment zones. Senate Bill 969, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, extended that authority beyond San Francisco and laid out the basic ground rules for how these districts can operate, according to Legislative Information. Cities across the region, including San Francisco and Mountain View, have already launched or are considering similar setups to pump energy back into their downtowns, according to Mountain View Voice.
Redwood City staff told council members the Broadway pedestrian mall made the most sense, since it is already closed to cars, is lined with a healthy number of alcohol-serving businesses and has clear entry points that are easier to police. The ordinance would allow entertainment zone "activations" any time between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, when a participating licensee is pouring drinks. For the first three to four months, staff expect only two to three activations, each lasting roughly two to three hours. City staff would control when those activations occur, and the pilot would be staffed by a mix of city workers and volunteers, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal.
How the Rules Would Work
Any business that signs on would still need to follow all state and local requirements for entertainment zones. That means checking IDs, using approved to-go containers, and complying with server training and other rules set out for alcohol licensees. In other cities, participation agreements, city-issued wristbands or specially marked cups help police and city staff quickly spot who is allowed to drink in the zone and who is not.
Those kinds of tools mirror what other entertainment zones have used to stay on the right side of state alcohol law and public safety expectations, according to Santa Monica City.
What’s Next
The Redwood City Council is expected to take up the proposal at an upcoming meeting. If members vote yes, staff could start rolling out a few test activations this summer under the pilot program.
Supporters say entertainment zones are a relatively low-cost way to bring more people downtown and give bars and restaurants a modest boost. Critics in other cities have warned that things can go sideways without tight management, clear rules and an eye on public safety and litter. When the proposal returns to the council dais, elected officials and downtown business groups are expected to hash out those trade-offs in public.
