Bricktown Businesses Express Support For Updated Curfew

An earlier curfew for unaccompanied minors in Bricktown is now in effect, with children under the age of 18 having to leave the area before 9 p.m.

At a city council meeting on Feb. 14, Oklahoma City Police Major Daniel Stewart said the Bricktown businesses were the driving force behind the initial ordinance proposal.

"The presence of unaccompanied minors does nothing for business does nothing for revenue does nothing for tax dollars," Charles Stout, owner of Bricktown Brewery said. "It just creates an unsafe environment."

General manager of Harkins Theater Jenny Lawrence said trouble tends to happen in the area when minors gather in larger groups.

For other businesses, owners and managers said it also places a burden on law enforcement in the area.

RELATED: Oklahoma City Police Department Enforces New Bricktown Curfew

"[It] becomes a distraction for OCPD who have other responsibilities within the district," Bricktown Water Taxi Owner and Bricktown Association chair Chad Huntington said.

Huntington also said that many of the businesses who most strongly pushed for the curfew change cater to kids.

Brickopolis, an entertainment venue featuring an arcade, mini golf and other attractions, already cuts off unaccompanied minors at 8pm.

Heyday Revolutions, a bowling alley on the canal near Harkins Theaters, is already 21 and up after 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Heyday Revolutions general manager Reagan Bates said that it has experienced juveniles throwing drinks off docks onto the water taxi and onto customers sitting on the patio.

Bates also said the change goes hand in hand with Revolutions weekend nighttime policy, and hopes the ordinance will drive more adults to Bricktown knowing minors won’t be causing more issues.