Fix's Expansion: a Boon or a Blight?

I arrived at last week's about Fix's proposed expansion into dinner and drinks with an open mind. I came away surprised by all the vitriol. I had no idea people felt so strongly—on both sides—about bistros.

Obviously, much has been made of the proposed beer and wine license, and I think the Anti-Fix camp's stance suffered from an overuse of hyperbole. As I listened to multiple speakers warn of the increase in "violent crime and property theft" directly attributable to the sale of alcohol, I was reminded of the scene in The Music Man where Harold Hill whips the town into a frenzy over the new pool tables up the street. Sure, first it's just pool, he says, then it's down the slippery slope to ragtime, gambling and (gasp) slang.

So do we have Trouble right here in Echo Park (with a capital "T" that rhymes with "B" and that stands for...beer)? Frankly, automatically linking beer and wine to debauchery and crime is a stretch in this instance. And while I can't say for certain, I'm reasonably sure isn't going to be offering any $4 PBR/free tequila shot specials.

By no means am I denying that this proposal carries significant implications for those of us who live nearby. Late-night patio noise is a definite consideration—I mean, it's not called Echo Park for nothing. As speaker after speaker mentioned, there are 4 schools within walking distance. And while I don't think Fix's clientele will be boozing it up on the patio as children arrive for school in the morning, I do think the increase in traffic flow could create a potential hazard for kids walking through the neighborhood. Speaking of cars: it's obvious that the parking situation, while legal under current zoning, isn't going to be good enough. 

While these concerns are very real, they're also no reason to dismiss Marc's proposal out of hand. One word used again and again by people on both sides of the issue was "community," and that's significant. The fact that so many people turned out for a preliminary town hall meeting shows that while me may not see eye to eye, we all care about Echo Park and want what's best for our community. I still haven't made up my mind about where I stand, but why not give Fix the chance to address these issues before jumping to conclusions?

Even if this plan doesn't end up being the perfect fit for the neighborhood, I think it's unlikely that expanding Fix into a beer and wine serving establishment is going to destroy our community or turn it into Sunset the sequel. We could all benefit from keeping an open mind—a  local watering hole could be just the thing to foster some real community spirit by bringing neighbors together over a glass of wine…or maybe just some dinner.