Rock Bar owner calls for night-life resurgence

A local bar owner is encouraging Alice Springs residents to get out and enjoy the night-life once more, as businesses face growing bills and quiet streets.

Alice Springs has been thrust into the national spotlight as a “crime crisis” encases the town and surrounding communities, prompting the reintroduction of alcohol restrictions and other safety related measures.

But Jo George, who owns Rock Bar in Alice Springs CBD, says it’s “about time” for people in town to start enjoying themselves again.

“It’s about time we started enjoying ourselves again and going back out at night is one of those things we can do to make us feel normal after such a difficult time recently,” he said.

In a Facebook post, Mr George said after “many months of soul searching” he had “decided to back Alice to be great again”.

New Year’s Eve at Bojangles in 2009. It is one of many venues boarded up currently in Alice Springs.

“The daytime drinkers have gone, as the tourist numbers have dwindled and the coaches that used to bring them to pubs in town, are now busy at the Rock.

“The night time has turned into a ghost town recently with people afraid to go out. Things have changed in the last few weeks. The streets are not as rough as they have been.”

Mr George said he had made a commitment to Alice Springs by buying his business partner out after 17 years, and was positive that with the help of residents in town, the business could be successful.

Punters spoken to said safety concerns, unreliable taxi services and the closure of several venues were behind people choosing to stay out of the CBD at night.

“People just aren’t confident going out at night anymore that they can get home safe,” one punter said.

Bojangles, an iconic cowboy saloon, closed in March 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

A Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision last year to overturn a rejection of the venues liquor license application put plans in place for the businesses reopening, but as of mid-March its doors remained closed.

Meanwhile, Montes Lounge shut its door late December last year, while other hospitality businesses have limited their opening hours.

The Chamber of Commerce NT – Central Australia conducted a study of transport in the Alice Springs Area in December 2022.

It found patrons at night-time venues were waiting up to three hours for transport home, people were going out at night for a short time or not at all as they were unable to move around quickly or safely, and that people were sometimes reluctant to drive to night-time events due to potential criminal damage.

Originally published as Rock Bar owner calls for night-life resurgence