Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas expand in Tri-State

The city of Hamilton is looking to expand its DORA program in hopes of bringing more revenue to the area during the pandemic.

AREAS OR "DORAS" HAVE BEENPOPPING UP ALL OVER THETRI-STATE IN THE LAST FEWYEARS, BUT THEIR POPULARITYHAS SEEN A HUGE BOOST DURINGTHE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

THECITY OF HAMILTON SAYS IT HASBEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THIS YEARIT IS NOW LOOKING TO EXPANDTHE DORA TO GET MOREBUSINESSES INVOLVED.

WCPO 9NEWS REPORTER JOSH BAZAN HASDETAILS FROM THAT NEW PLAN.Dalton Lubbers/Taproom Managerat Municipal Brew Works16:19:22"I mean the last couple monthshave been different to say theleast.

A little chaotic attimes."DALTON LUBBERS MANAGESTHE TAPROOM AT MUNICIPAL BREWWORKS.

HE'S HELPED THEBUSINESS ADAPT TO THE NEWCOVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ANDLUBBERS SAYS DURING THEPANDEMIC, THE BUSINESS HASRELIED HEAVILY ON DORACUSTOMERS.DaltonLubbers/Taproom Manager atMunicipal Brew Works16:20:29"Iwill say that the DORA cupsare definitely more utilizednow than they were before justbecause it's kind of the onlyoption you have."THATCONSISTENT REVENUE FROM DORAHAS HELPED MUNICIPAL BREWWORKS STAY OPEN AND HELPED THEOWNERS KEEP PEOPLE LIKELUBBERS EMPLOYED.

NUMBERSDURING THE PANDEMIC SHOW MOREPEOPLE ARE TRYING OUTHAMILTON'S DORA THAN EVERBEFORE.Dalton Lubbers/TaproomManager at Municipal Brew Works16:19:55"It has been reallyhelpful for people to come andget a beer and then carry on.That way they're distancingthemselves from not only usbut others as well."JacobStone/City of Hamilton PublicCommunications Specialist16:14:34"The first two yearsthat we had the DORA we wentthrough roughly 10,000 DORAcups.

This year, so far, we'renear 30,000."THE CITY HOPES TOEXPAND DORA SEVEN BLOCKS EASTALONG HIGH STREET TO ERIEBOULEVARD AND ABOUT THREEBLOCKS SOUTH ALONG B STREET.FOUR NEW BARS AND RESTAURANTSWILL HAVE THE OPTION TO JOINTHE DORA PROGRAM.JacobStone/City of Hamilton PublicCommunications Specialist16:13:24"Now is the perfecttime because especially intoday's age this has been sucha great tool for localbusinesses."Jacob Stone/Cityof Hamilton PublicCommunications Specialist16:13:37"They're not taking asbig of an impact fromdecreased sales because theyhave that increased capacityto continue their day to dayoperations."THAT WAS JOSH BAZAN REPORTING.THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ONTHE DORA'S EXPANSION AT NEXTWEEK'S MEETING.

IF PASSED, THECITY WILL LIKELY PUT THOSECHANGES INTO EFFECT IN JULY