Raleigh bar, nightclub owners have ‘notable level of mistrust' of city, report says

Yahoo

14-05-2025

There is a 'notable level of mistrust' between nightlife venues and the city of Raleigh, according to a new report.
Enforcement of COVID-19 regulations, struggles after the pandemic and frequent changes to the city's noise ordinance have contributed to the mistrust between the city and bar and nightclub owners.
That's according to a report, commissioned by Responsible Hospitality Institute, that was presented to the Raleigh City Council Tuesday afternoon.
The city spent $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for a Social City Assessment, to analyze the 'strengths, challenges and opportunities within the social economy of the Fayetteville Street and Glenwood South districts.'
'I want to leave you with the idea that the earlier you engage with these folks about what it is that you expect of them as a city, and what you want them to do, and how you are happy they're here and you want to support them, the better,' said Jocelyn Kane, senior consultant for Responsible Hospitality Institute. 'And that night life and the social economy here is vital and important and not a nuisance to just manage it, but to support because of value it brings to your city.'
The report focused on how to improve the two areas of downtown Raleigh — both central to the city's entertainment scene — that have struggled in recent years for different reasons.
Glenwood South, a stretch of several blocks of Glenwood Avenue, bounced back quicker after the pandemic but faced numerous complaints from residents about noise, crime and other 'quality of life' problems. On Fayetteville Street, foot traffic has slowed due to hybrid work and safety concerns.
The tensions go back to the pandemic, when the city was charged with enforcing the state's COVID-19 policies and restrictions.
In April 2020, the city's Office of Special Events took over responsibilities for outdoor seating and private use of public spaces. Since many events were canceled during the pandemic, they shifted to 'COVID enforcement.' That enforcement was focused in particular on limiting capacity in indoor places — and in crowded Glenwood South bars — and mask wearing.
'So we were going to the businesses making sure that people were wearing a mask, that they were seated, that they were abiding by the governor's executive orders at the time,' said Whitney Schoenfeld, with the Office of Special Events. 'So we kind of ended up getting the perception of being the COVID police.'
Since the end of the pandemic, the strained relationship between venues and the city has been exacerbated by changes to the city's noise and nightlife rules.
'Sound is just a very sensitive subject for both our businesses and our residents,' Schoenfeld said. 'So that's part of it it, too.'
The Raleigh City Council updated its noise and nightlife rules earlier this year to crack down on loopholes that bars and restaurants were using to keep the loud music playing after a citation. The new rules, called 'turn down the sound,' require music to be turned down after a citation or face another citation.
Clubs with outdoor, amplified music that get a citation are required to move the music inside for 24 hours.
The News & Observer requested the number of noise violations reported in Glenwood South and downtown Raleigh so far this year.
There were 158 noise complaints from January to September in 2024 with 12 civil violations and 18 criminal citations, The N&O reported previously.
In early 2024, the city also changed from using a decibel reader to a 'reasonable person' standard because it was difficult to pinpoint exactly where the noise came from. City leaders said then it was hard for police to enforce. Sometimes the noise would end before police arrived and it required special equipment and training.
Kane, with Responsible Hospitality Institute, said most of the cities they work with have a decibel-based enforcement.
'The folks that are really good at this and have spent a lot of time on this, also attach a specific number to each venue individually,' she said. 'The more set up for success you can make businesses, the better they can comply.'
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, who was elected last fall, said the noise ordinance change seems to put police and businesses in 'a very awkward position' and leaves 'very frustrated citizens.'
There are large, professional music venues like the city-owned Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown that know how to manage sound and how it impacts the surrounding area, she said.
'And then we have a cliff drop-off to a bunch of backdoor bars that are in an old gas station or a little house, and they're blasting music out,' she said. 'And there really are no standards. Nothing.'
One suggestion is making sure housing developers are aware of the ambient sound on a Friday and Saturday night, Kane said, and making sure bedrooms are placed further away from a lively street.
'There's thousands and thousands of new residential coming that the ground hasn't broken yet,' Kane said. 'And the mixed-use conflict is coming. So how do we given the constraints and rules, encourage thoughtfulness on the side of the development?'
City staff intend to review the report and bring back immediate 'low hanging fruit' that can be implemented soon and recommendations on longer-term plans.
The full report will be shared to the public at 6 p.m. Wednesday at The Chapel at Dix Park.