Fort Wayne council approves two Downtown Dining District liquor licenses

The Fort Wayne Common Council on Jan. 27 approved two Downtown Dining District liquor licenses, one for Paula’s on Main and one for the Philharmonic Center, after discussion about eligibility, annual fees and safeguards for events with minors.

Andrea Robinson of the city’s Community Development department introduced both requests. She told the council the district’s annual fee was increased from $2,500 to $3,500 when the district was expanded and that the city does not receive proceeds from the private-market auction value of state liquor licenses. Robinson said eight district licenses are currently in use and the district requires at least 25% of total sales to be non‑alcohol (ticket sales and other non‑alcohol receipts qualify).

Jeremy McClain, a partner with Salvatori’s Restaurant Group speaking for Paula’s on Main, said the business was acquired in 2024 and has been leasing a liquor license; he asked the council to allow the restaurant to apply for its own Downtown Dining District license. Council members questioned whether the district license was intended primarily for new businesses and whether offering the downtown option to an existing business would create uneven access across neighborhoods. McClain said leasing arrangements are negotiated case by case and that leased licenses can command monthly premiums.

Abigail Cleveland, executive director of the Philharmonic Center, described about $2,000,000 in improvements to the downtown building and said alcohol sales would be a small portion of overall revenue — roughly 2% in the first year — with initial alcohol-related receipts estimated at roughly $38,000–$40,000. Cleveland said alcohol service would be limited to ticketed evening events and staffed by professional bartenders, with protocols to prevent service to minors.

In regular session the council passed R260117 (Paula’s on Main) and R260118 (Philharmonic Center) by 6–1 votes. The council’s approval includes the downtown-district annual fee and compliance reporting obligations; license renewal remains annual and the city’s Community Development department will collect compliance reports on alcohol versus non‑alcohol sales.

The council did not attach additional written commitments to either approval during the meeting; council members said further guardrails for future applications could be considered.