It has been nearly a year since the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area began operating in the area bounded by Summit, Adams, Lafayette, and Erie Streets.
It has made life easier for those interested in bar-hopping or even to take a beer to go while exploring the downtown area. Buy a beer at a participating business and pour it into a designated cup before leaving the bar or restaurant.
To date, 72,000 DORA cups have been distributed.
“[DORA] doesn’t bring people to Toledo, but it helps the people who come to Toledo. They can walk around and see the different sites with a beer. It gives them a better chance to enjoy Toledo,” said KC Saint John, assistant general manager at Ye Olde Durty on South St. Clair Street.
The downtown drinking area is the second for the city. The first outdoor refreshment area began operating along Adams Street, between 11th and 21st streets after being approved in December, 2015. On Adams Street, cups are available from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Friday and noon until 1 a.m. on the weekends. Downtown, the cups are available noon to midnight daily.
In both areas, the rules are the same: Stay within the designated area; use either a DORA cup or a marked Adams Street cup; cups cannot be taken into an establishment; you cannot bring your own beer into the area and pour it into a cup; and dispose of the cups in trash cans.
Ohio lawmakers allowed cities to designate outdoor-refreshment areas beginning in May, 2015. Based on its size, Toledo is allowed two areas. Businesses on Adams street and downtown petitioned city council to create the outdoor drinking areas.
“DORA has been successful for us. Businesses remain enthusiastic about it,” said Cindy Kerr, vice president for ConnecToledo, Downtown Development Corporation. “In warmer weather, usage is typically higher, but it has been popular even in colder weather. It provides one more activity that people can do to experience the downtown area.”
Even fans attending Mud Hens games or Walleye games or concerts can take their beer to go.
“The cups for us are available for request at the door. You can request one, pour whatever beer you have left in the cup, and go walk around,” Troy Roeske, marketing manager for Toledo’s Huntington Center, said.
DORA includes two dozen bars and restaurants, including several bars and restaurants in the Hensville and Warehouse District areas, which are popular with those attending events at Fifth Third Field and the Huntington Center.
Saint John said the big challenge so far has been in educating customers about the rules, though his staff makes it a point to get cups for customers and explain to them the rules if they want to explore other nearby bars since Ye Olde Durty Bird closes earlier than most of its neighbors.
“There still needs to be a lot of education, but there has not been too much negative that I have heard,” Saint John said. “People are shocked that we actually have something like this down here.”
Contact Brian Dugger at bdugger@theblade.com or on Twitter @DuggerBlade.
First Published April 11, 2018, 10:30 a.m.
