Council denies bars’ requests

The Columbia council has shot down multiple requests from downtown bars to close city streets.

A number of bars, including Bengal’s, Shiloh and Campus Bar & Grill, asked to close down streets on homecoming and allow for open containers.

Several of the requests were in protest of Harpo’s Bar & Grill, whose owners first asked the council for approval.

Many council members thought the request was a mess and not thought out.

Columbia police were also against the plan, saying they didn’t have enough staff to add the extra patrol needed.