Open late? Some bars want to be able to stay open until 3 a.m.

Some local bar owners say they want the opportunity to serve customers during the same hours the new Isle Casino Cape Girardeau is allowed to do so.

Missouri statutes governing gaming allow casinos to serve alcohol to patrons on the gaming floor until 3 a.m. State statutes require all other bars to end liquor sales at 1:30 a.m., but exceptions are made for designated areas in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Cathy Thompson, owner of The Library, 10 S. Spanish St., said that since the casino opened at the end of October, she's seen a significant drop in her late-night business.

This November's sales, compared to November 2011, dropped 35 percent, she said. November was the first full month Isle Casino was open; according to the Missouri Gaming Commission, the casino had 109,905 patrons during the month.

"I need to stay open later to try to make up that difference," Thompson said.

Doc Cain, owner of Port Cape Girardeau, 19 N. Water St., said he has seen some decline in business. He attributes it to the novelty of the casino.

"I certainly hope it's not long term. I think people are going to try out their facilities and enjoy what they have to offer. But hopefully, they'll come back to our bars," he said.

Cain said he supports pushing back closing time in Cape Girardeau.

"I think we should have the opportunity simply because it's the right thing to do," he said. "I don't think they should have any privileges with their liquor license other than what we have with our liquor license."

Cain said he's not sure he would stay open until 3 a.m. every night, or at all, but he believes he should have the opportunity.

Ashley Gilman, bar manager at Rhymer's on the Plaza, 10 S. Plaza Way, said the casino's later closing time and its ability to offer live music without charging people a cover hasn't hurt her business.

"We had a band in here last night and we were packed," she said Saturday.

Like Cain, she's not sure if her bar would stay open until 3 a.m. every night or just maybe just on the weekends, but she would like to have the same opportunities afforded the casino.

According to Isle spokeswoman Jill Haynes, various locations inside the casino stop serving alcohol at different times, and all are before 3 a.m. At Keller's skydeck bar, last call is at 1 a.m. At Farraddays steakhouse it is at 11 p.m. and on the gaming floor it is 2:30 a.m.

State statute specifies liquor sales between 1:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. may be allowed in designated "convention trade areas." Such areas are allowed in Kansas City and St. Louis. It would take an amendment to state law to add Cape Girardeau.

Once the statute is amended to allow Cape Girardeau to designate a "convention trade area," the city council would have to define the area's through a city ordinance. Then businesses interested in obtaining a permit to sell from 1:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. would have to meet certain sales requirements and pay an additional permit fee to the state.

City officials in Boonville, Mo., and Saint Charles, Mo., which both have riverfront casinos, said they never had a push from their local bars to change their closing time. They follow the state statute with a 1:30 a.m. closing time.

"Most of them close earlier than they are allowed due to a lack of business," said Boonville City Clerk Mary McAllister.

mmillersemissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

10 S. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

19 N. Water St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

10 S. Plaza Way, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

777 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.