It seems simple enough: Buy a drink at a restaurant or bar, take the beverage outside and walk around while enjoying nearby concerts, holiday decorations, fire pits, stage performances or simply the people scene around you.
It basically allows for pedestrian areas within a mall, away from roads and parking lots, where customers can be served alcoholic drinks. Mall managers are encouraged to provide extra security along with signs, physical barriers, electronic surveillance and the like. More aspects of the new regulation can be seen underMall owner Vestar recently obtained the necessary permits with officials in Phoenix and Tempe, where those two facilities are located, and now is seeking licenses from the state.
The approval process first requires shopping-center owners to submit their plans with local cities, towns or counties during a 60-day review process, which McGinley said was recently completed.Another reason to visit"With open malls, it's a great opportunity for customers to leave with their drinks to enjoy the festivities," said Joel Bachkoff, who participated in the pilot program at his entertainment venue, Copper Blues Live, at Desert Ridge Marketplace.
Around that time, David Larcher, Vestar's president and CEO, said malls need to become more relevant as destinations offering food, beverages and entertainment, not just shopping. But retailers also could benefit if the law attracts more foot traffic.The original Arizona legislation, House Bill 2281, created a three-year pilot program that allowed the owner or manager of a regional shopping center to designate one restaurant or bar with a liquor license to apply for the extended service.