These 6 establishments will make up Marine City's downtown social district

Six Marine City establishments are set to participate in the community’s new social district that’ll allow adult visitors and residents to enjoy a walk downtown with an alcoholic beverage in the coming months.

City officials signed off on rules in May, setting boundaries along South Water Street and part of Broadway Street where adults could carry cocktails in specially marked or stickered containers.

Earlier this month, the city also sent half a dozen social district permit requests to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, and City Manager Scott Adkins said they hope the arrangement takes effect in the coming weeks.

“We expect to have everything in place by early fall. I would hope that September works for us,” he said this week. “We don’t have control on the LCC piece, but all the heavy lifting has been done.”

According to the city’s permits, Anita’s Riverfront Grille, Gar’s Lounge, Gord’s Bar, Marine City Fish Company, Newport Pub, and TwoRivers Winery will be included in the social district.

What are the parameters for the social district?

According to the state, social districts are designated public areas outdoors where alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed.

Marine City’s district plan would put those boundaries along South Water between Broadway and Bridge streets. Common areas would be in the four park areas along the St. Clair River, as well as sidewalks along Broadway and Water and public paths on the waterfront.

The district would also operate daily from 4 p.m. to midnight. Adults would not be allowed to bring their own beverages, limiting them to what is purchased at participating establishments.

Adkins said some steps, such as installing signage or ordering cups or stickers, remain.

Last spring, city commissioners also weighed revisiting the social district after 90 days once in place and annually thereafter.

Over time, Adkins said they’ll be able to evaluate how well the parameters set are working, including areas where alcohol is not allowed, parks or beach exemptions, and how the district will affect events like Maritime Days where there’s a downtown beer tent.

“It’s new,” Adkins said. “We’re learning at the same time.”

What are the benefits for local bars, residents?

The social district has largely been embraced by some of the participating establishments.

Newport Pub co-owner Angela Pashley said there are things like to-go beverage rules at the state level, but that she saw a lot of positives for allowing consumption outdoors downtown.

“I’m sure there’s pros and cons to it, but I think it’s more pro. People don’t want to be confined to the inside of an establishment,” she said Thursday evening. “If they have the capabilities to access the beautiful water and the beautiful parks with a controlled way of providing them some kind of beverage, then sure. I’m sure there’s also a sense of responsibility, too. … I see a lot of them people that come in here as family, and we develop relationships, so we just want to make sure that anybody who has that intent to be involved is following the rules.”

Dave Swantek, co-owner of TwoRivers, agreed the social district was a plus, adding they were excited about the options it offered customers.

“Marine City (already had rules) where you could consume alcohol inside of parks. Now, this opens an incredible opportunity to be able to promote the active social district,” he said, referring to previous pandemic-era standards for alcohol consumption. “There are very few cities in the area, especially cities like Marine City, that have social districts.”

Swantek said popular items like slushies in the summer could prove popular to-go items for social district visitors. But he also saw the benefit that came with being able to offer “anything on the shelf to go.”

With another way to satisfy customers and sales, Pashley said she thought it may help drive business a bit in the winter when tourism was down if establishments offer people warmer drinks.

For now, she said a drink that won first place in a Maritime Days “best cocktail” contest will continue to be popular with customers when the district takes effect.

“People have been asking for that. It’s called the Englishman,” Pashley said. “So, it’s a gin-based drink — fresh lime juice, squeezed, fresh cucumber juice. That’s in the juicer, and then, some simple syrup that’s made from scratch and is infused with mint. Then, top it off with soda or champagne.”

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: These 6 bars will make up Marine City's new downtown social district