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Alpena DDA eyeing downtown social district

ALPENA, Mich. — Imagine buying a drink at your favorite bar– leaving with it and enjoying it while walking through downtown Alpena? This summer– that could be a reality.

The Downtown Development Authority has plans to make downtown Alpena a social district. Last summer, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission passed a law that would allow city governments to create a social district as a way to help business owners during the pandemic.

“A social district is an area in the city or the downtown where people can consume open alcohol,” DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry says. “You can purchase a beer, wine, or cocktail from participating bars and take that drink into the designated area and consume it.”

Gentry says the social district could be in place by the summer, and the feedback she’s heard from local businesses has been supportive.

“We could establish this for the summer,” Gentry says. “We’re seeing what the process would entail. I’ve spoken with most of the bars and restaurants downtown and all of them are interested in participating.”