Carry out drinks at more restaurants, bars under downtown Lafayette proposal

Proposed new boundaries, new bars/restaurants, new hours set to go to Lafayette City Council Monday for downtown’s ‘designated outdoor refreshment area.’

• Support for Based in Lafayette comes from Purdue Convocations and Purdue Student Concert Committee, presenting Del Water Gap on March 29 at Elliott Hall of Music. Del Water Gap is the solo project of S. Holden Jaffe, a New England-born songwriter and producer. With over 52 million streams worldwide, Jaffe has garnered a dedicated following through his captivating music and collaborations. Notable collaborations include tracks with Maggie Rogers and Claud, including the intimate ballad My Body. His breakout track, “Ode To A Conversation Stuck In Your Throat,” gained over 8.5 million Spotify streams and became a summer anthem for many. Del Water Gap’s recent singles, “All We Ever Do Is Talk,” “Doll House,” and “Glitter & Honey” have been well received. Buy Tickets for Del Water Gap with musical support from Jake Minch, Saturday, March 29, in Elliott Hall of Music.

---

LAFAYETTE LOOKS TO EXPAND AREA FOR CARRYOUT DRINKS DOWNTOWN

Downtown Lafayette’s designated outdoor refreshment area, installed in spring 2024 in the 1000 block of Main Street, could be expanded to allow some bars and restaurants to sell drinks and could be carried outside.

The Lafayette City Council is scheduled Monday to consider new boundaries for the so-called DORA, stretching it down Main Street to Second Street and along several side streets.

The move, if approved in votes next week and again on April 4, the zone would expand the number of designated restaurants and bars in the DORA from three to 14.

“When we first did this last year, right away we had other people who reached out with interest about doing it,” Dennis Carson, Lafayette’s economic development director, said. “So we said, ‘Sure, let’s expand it.’”

LAST CALL FOR THE BEST OFFER ON BASED IN LAFAYETTE — 20% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR. THE SALE ENDS TODAY, FRIDAY, FEB. 28.

The Indiana General Assembly cleared the way for the designated areas in 2023. According to the state Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area allows someone 21 or older to buy alcoholic beverages from approved vendors and retail establishments and carry them outside to be consumed within approved boundaries. Since then, 33 DORAs have been set up across the state, including in Lafayette, according to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.

Lafayette’s first was in the block of Main Street with East End Grill, Ripple & Company and The Cellar Wine Bistro, which applied to be allowed to sell drinks in approved cups that could be carried outside, as long as they stayed in the boundaries of the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.