Sandwich Street Closure Proposed Again For Giant St. Patrick’s Day Bash

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March 2013 in Olde Sandwich Towne (Photo by Owen Wolter)

The 2nd Annual Olde Sandwich Towne St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is seeking permission from the city to close a portion of Sandwich Street for festivities this March.

If approved the road closure would span two blocks along Sandwich Street from Detroit Street to Brock Street. With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Monday, the Sandwich Improvement Area is asking to extend the road closure an extra day from Sunday March 16th at 8am to Tuesday March 18th at 1am.

Not all of the local businesses are on board for the proposal.

“If they do get the SOP (special occasion permit) for this, I will likely just close for the two days and send my employees home as last year’s sales were zero for the day,” Bill Davies of Wally’s Bait wrote in a letter to city council. “Also, I would like some idea from the city if they can just keep adding a day to it as St. Patrick’s Day next year will be Wed.”

David Grimaldi, Executive Director of The Sandwich Improvement Area said this year they are better prepared for the large crowds including “15 licensed security guards and two contract duty officers as well as a number of volunteers.”

The number of people that attended in the previous year caught the organizers by surprise said Grimaldi.

“Last year we closed the road and allowed patrons to go from one to another bar with one drink. The event was a huge success and we experienced long line-ups,” said Grimaldi.

Local pubs are also preparing for a larger event with the same safety measures as last year including fencing, security and road barricades.

“We will be expanding our facilities for the event, adding a large beer tent in our parking lot to accommodate increased attendance as well as a ‘TO GO’ line so people in the street can get a beer faster and avoid lineups,” said Chris Mickle, owner and operator of the Dominion House.

The proposal goes to City Council for approval on Monday.