Little Rock businesses talk about potential curfew modifications

Little Rock, Arkansas – Directors in Little Rock talked about tightening the juvenile curfew on Tuesday night.

The directors decided not to make any decisions this week in order to consult with the neighborhood.

One of the company owners we spoke to said he would support a curfew, particularly in the area of the River Market.

“In general, no I don’t think it makes sense for anyone under 18 to be downtown or anywhere else downtown unaccompanied,” said Daniel Bryant.
Bryant owns several restaurants, including Big Whiskey’s and Gus’s Chicken.

The current curfew runs from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday, but the ordinance would extend it to include Friday and Saturday.

No youngster was allowed to be near an entertainment district between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and children and teens had to be indoors between midnight and 5:00 a.m.

“I think the answer is to do that during the appropriate hours of the day. I’ve got two teenage sons. It never occurs to me to bring them to the River Market and drop them off,” Bryant explained.

Any potential modifications have been communicated to companies by the Downtown Little Rock Partnership.

“The River Market looks very different on a Saturday morning during the farmer’s market than it does on a Saturday night after 9:00 p.m.,” said Gabe Holstrom, Little Rock Downtown Partnership Executive Director.

Next Monday, the Little Rock directors will hold a special meeting to get input from the general public regarding curfew modifications. At the following agenda meeting, they want to put the ordinance to a vote.