Royal Oak Ready for Biggest Bar Night of the Year

Business owners are gleeful about the crowds expected to throng to Royal Oak on Wednesday to celebrate Thanksgiving Eve, traditionally known as the biggest bar night of the year.

"This is going to be such a great night," said Brent Stevens, manager of Vinotecca, 417 S. Main St., a wine bar. "This is going to surpass our busiest Friday or Saturday night."

Revelers are ready, too. Brook Kress of Royal Oak plans to hit 112 E. Third St., with friends. "I think people go out because everyone else is out," Kress said. "All the bars are full, you run into people you haven't seen in a long time."

Shelly Bissett of Royal Oak, a staffer at , 215 S. Main St., is baking for Thanksgiving on Wednesday, but she hopes to get done in time to go out at night. "Hopefully, I can get these pies done early," Bissett said. "Everyone will be out, it'll be so much fun."

Staff at nearby , 530 S. Main St., say they plan to open an extra room usually saved for private parties to handle overflow. BlackFinn, which is offering half-price specialty martinis and $6 flatbread pizzas from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, can hold 381 people.

Royal Oak police will have a foot patrol downtown with several officers keeping an eye on the crowds. Police say they already stopped by the most popular bars in town to remind managers about the dangers of over serving patrons, letting crowds go over capacity or get out of control.

"It's a reminder that we do every year," Sgt. Albert Carter said.

So it's a big night, but is it really the biggest bar night of the year?

"Yes," said Nancy Cain, spokeswoman for AAA Michigan, which compiles statistics on travel and other topics. "All the bars will tell you they expect to have so many people tonight. People come home for the holidays, they want to get together, so they go out."

will have 10 bartenders, eight security officers on hand to mind the crowd, and specials such as $5 cosmos, $4 lemondrop shots and a pint of Newcastle beer for $4.50.

"It's a great night, everyone is out to have fun," Mr. B's Manager Michelle Taylor said. "We'll have every bartender on staff here tonight."

Vinotecca thinks the bar will be too crowded and busy to even handle specials. "We're going to be running around so much, we won't even have time for them," Stevens predicted.

When will these crowds arrive?

Kim Hubbard, a manager at , 208 W. Fifth Ave., says people usually start heading in at 8 p.m. to get a seat at the bar. Anyone who arrives closer to 10 p.m. or later will probably be out of luck as far as seating goes at one of the popular Royal Oak nightspots.

"If you want to sit, get here early," Hubbard said.

If you're sitting – or standing – at the bar for a long time, make sure to have a designated driver or have the number handy for a ride.

"We advise people to make a reservation before they go out because usually you think better about being responsible before you've started drinking," advised Art Kelly, chief operating officer for The Designate car service based in Troy.

The Designate operates teams of drivers who will head to wherever you are to drive you home. One driver whisks you away in a Designate car, and the other driver takes your own car home and leaves it safely in the driveway.

"We do well in Royal Oak," Kelly said. "We work with BlackFinn, the bartenders know the number and they'll arrange for us to get you home."

The Designate charges $30 per pickup and $2.50 a mile for the ride. Call 888-929-8282 anytime before 3 a.m. Local taxi service is also available and your bartender will be happy to call one for you.