As you may or may not have heard, Charleston city council is considering an ordinance that will require restaurants, bars, convenience stores, and gas stations in the King/Meeting/Market Street areas to close at midnight.

At the moment it is being said that existing restaurants and bars will be grandfathered in but this is a very slippery slope. This is beyond ridiculous as it will kill the downtown nightlife area and all of the money it brings in. Also this ordinance will discourage any new bars and restaurants from moving in if their competition is allowed to stay open 2 hours later than they are. These new businesses moving in have greatly improved Upper King Street and property values in the area, and this ordinance would completely kill that progress.

Also it appears that bars and restaurants inside of hotels will be allowed to stay open? The ordinance just seems very inconsistent and not well thought out.

Keep our nightlife open until 2am and we'll keep the money rolling in. Please sign this petition and share with your friends!