An unintended consequence of the city's success is that people from all over the Lowcountry come downtown to party. George said the city has a right to go to sleep. Charleston isn't New Orleans, and he hopes that the city never becomes another New Orleans. Bars close at 2 a.m. in major cities all over the U.S., including San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York, he said. I think there will be a readjustment period.
Some people are going to be hurt, there's no question about it.
But we can't rip the lid off the city and just let everybody raise hell all night. That's letting the tail wag the dog. City Councilman Larry Shirley opposed the closing time. He noted that Manny's in West Ashley, a popular late-night place to eat, has to close at 2 a.m. because it has an alcohol license. It's just like the prohibition era.