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Council renews and expands Wooster’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, extends hours and footprint
Summary
The City Council adopted an ordinance renewing the DORA program and expanding its geographic footprint and hours to 10 a.m.–11 p.m. daily; business leaders and the chamber told council they view the program as an economic success.
The Wooster City Council on June 16 adopted Ordinance 2025-10, renewing and expanding the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). The ordinance extends the program’s hours to 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, and enlarges the DORA footprint in downtown areas identified by organizers.
Why it matters: Local business leaders said the program, launched in 2020, helped restaurants and downtown businesses recover from pandemic-era restrictions and has increased foot traffic and tourism prospects. “During the past nearly five years now… the restaurants have come to us asking for the expanded hours,” Samara Zimmerli, President and CEO of the Wooster Chamber of Commerce, told council.
Program details: Under the renewed ordinance, patrons may buy alcoholic beverages in designated DORA cups from authorized permit holders within the marked area. The proposed expanded map would include areas west past TJ’s, east past JFB to Pittsburgh Avenue, and north along Liberty Street to include the old jail building; signage will mark boundaries and authorized permits. Chamber and Main Street leaders said they coordinated with the police department and reported no enforcement issues to date.
Public comments and support: A downtown business representative, identified as Miss Waller, said local restaurants and the Chamber organized the initial program in 2020 and added safeguards before launch. “We put a lot of safeguards in place… and we ended up having no problems that I’ve ever learned of that were directly related to implementing Dora,” she told council.
Council vote and next steps: The ordinance passed on third reading by roll call with all present members voting yes. City staff said the DORA renewal is set for the standard five-year review cycle under state rules; council did not add additional conditions beyond the administration’s recommendations.
