As Huntsville businesses steadily acquire the newly adopted Mixed Beverage Late Hours License, bar owners and Huntsville police are proceeding with caution.

David Zuniga of the Huntsville Steak Co., doing business as the Stardust Room Restaurant and Bar, is one of the many businessmen in Huntsville who is approaching the new ordinance with optimism and a wait-and-see attitude.

“What we are doing is we are cautioning ourselves,” Zuniga said. “If we have a full house and people want to continue drinking then we have the option to stay open. We as the manager and the owner will make that decision.”

Zuniga also believes that the extended hours may draw Sam Houston State University students out later into the night as opposed to visiting bars earlier in the evening.

“It’s hard to determine whether it’s going to help or not, because there is a chance that sales will drop off earlier in the evening,” Zuniga said. “It’s not an increase in sales if patrons are picking a new hour to go drinking.”

Zuniga believes that one effective way of measuring whether the extended hours are profitable is by documenting the increase in sales and liquor tax revenues.

Business proved profitable, however, on Tuesday night when Shenanigan’s, owned by Darrel Tarvin, stayed open until 2 a.m. for the first time.

“As far as a head count, I didn’t have any more (customers) than I normally do, but I had very few people leave early,” Tarvin said.

The Huntsville Fire Department recorded Shenanigan’s as being only 400 people under capacity Tuesday night at 2 a.m., said University Police Department Deputy Chief James Fitch.

According to Tarvin, Shenanigan’s will remain open until 2 a.m. from now on.

So far, Shenanigan’s, Humphrey’s and The Jolly Fox are the only three establishments to possess a Mixed Beverage Late Hours License, according to Fitch. Zuniga of the Stardust Room has applied for a license and is hoping to receive it sometime this week. Murski’s has also filed an application with the TABC, or Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Meanwhile, Huntsville police are also cautioning themselves by studying the changes this new ordinance might bring to the night life in Huntsville.

Currently, the University Police Department has only three officers patrolling during the midnight to 2 a.m. shift on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but these numbers might change if an increase in crime is observed.

“I don’t want to make any knee jerk reaction,” Fitch said. “If it presents an ongoing problem for us we will definitely evaluate it and move our shifts around.”

Fitch is also planning on scheduling many rides with officers during peak drinking hours to observe the ordinance’s affects and determine whether more officers are needed during the midnight to 2 a.m. shift.

Fitch echoes many business owners like Zuniga in speculating that students will visit bar establishments later in the night and this, in turn, will lead to crime occurring at later hours.

“I think there will be an increase in PI arrests, DUI arrests, and an increase in assaults. I also think the loud noise calls we get will move later into the night, but I could be wrong and I hope that I am,” Fitch said. “It’s mostly dependent upon the individuals drinking till 2 and that they have the responsibility.”

The University Police Department is also planning on working cooperatively with the Huntsville Police Department to combat any instances of escalated crime this new ordinance might bring.

“It’s very common for us to help them with their calls. Our departments have a great working relationship,” Fitch said.

During a regular session meeting on Nov. 12, the Huntsville City Council approved in a 6-3 vote to adopt the ordinance 2009-59 effectively extending the sale of alcoholic beverages by two hours on any day starting on Dec. 1.

Voting in favor of the ordinance were Mayor J. Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Lanny Ray and council members Dalene Zender, Charles Forbus, Melissa Mahaffey and Jack Wagamon.

Ray believed this ordinance would lead Huntsville in the right direction.

“The principle (reason for doing this) is to level the playing field of our merchants,” Ray said during the Nov. 12 meeting. “This isn’t just about students. This is about all of Huntsville.”

Voting against the ordinance were council members Tom Cole, Mac Woodward and Wayne Barrett.

Ordinance 2009-59 has been debated by students and citizens alike for nearly 10 months. Its approval on Nov. 12 was met with much enthusiasm by students of Sam Houston State University and merchants.

Despite the heated debate that has sparked as a result of this ordinance, only one thing is now certain: only time will tell whether this new ordinance will draw more business or crime into Huntsville area.

“My main concern is public safety and the safety of Huntsville in general,” Fitch said.