FARGO (KFGO) – Mayor Tim Mahoney says the owner of a downtown Fargo liquor store has decided to close at 11 every night to help reduce public intoxication and other drinking-related issues.
Jim Swanick owns Empire Liquors on Broadway. Mahoney says Swanick agreed to close the off-sale three hours earlier. Mahoney says there have been concerns that people were buying liquor just ahead of 2 a.m., drinking and staying downtown.
In another move to change the perception of some people that downtown is not safe, a police substation will open by the end of the month at Broadway and 4th Avenue North, providing additional police presence.
Mahoney, in discussion with Police Chief Dave Zibolski, says special phones that would alert police may also be installed, similar to the blue light phones in place on the NDSU campus.
