Mattison's receives downtown residents' support

Downtown residents and organizations are coming out in support of restaurant Paul Mattison.

Last week, he asked the Sarasota  City Commission to make a minor change to the city code that prohibits outdoor establishments from playing amplified music after 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends. Mattison’s is open an hour later on both weeknights and weekends, and for seven years has had live music without a problem.

But in November, someone made an anonymous complaint about music being played after hours, and police enforced the city code.

That complaint came from the area of Links Avenue and Ringling Boulevard, which is one-half mile away from Mattison’s City Grille. The reporting officer noted that he didn’t hear the music until he was right outside the restaurant.

Mary Anne Servian, downtown resident and board member of the Downtown Sarasota Alliance, said she’s been asking other downtown residents to support Mattison’s request.

“Paul is one of our most responsible restaurateurs,” she said.

DSA members unanimously voted to voice their support as well.

Said Ernie Ritz, DSA advisor: “I had to go through this 10 years ago. An anonymous call can be from a disgruntled customer or a competitor.”

Andy Frank, outgoing president of the Five Points Neighborhood Association, said she hasn’t spoken to her board about the issue, but she would be in favor of allowing Mattison’s City Grille an extra hour of music.

Commissioners asked city staff to research the issue and place it on their next agenda in January.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].