Visitors can soon walk around Delano with an alcoholic beverage in hand
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- Wichita City Council approved a common consumption license pilot program for Delano.
- Visitors will be able to carry drinks from bars & restaurants on Friday and Saturday.
- Businesses participating in the common consumption area would have to buy a $250 license.
Visitors in Delano can soon walk around the neighborhood with an alcoholic beverage from area bars and restaurants in hand.
The Wichita City Council approved a common consumption area license for Delano at its meeting Tuesday.
“I see our role at City Hall [as] ‘Hey, how can we make business easier for you to operate?’” City Council member Dalton Glasscock told The Eagle earlier. “I think this is one way we can do that.”
The year-long pilot would allow visitors to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating restaurants and bars along Douglas between McLean and Seneca, down south to Maple, and consume them outside of those establishments.
That would be allowed on Friday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Many other cities in Kansas allow common consumption in certain areas, including Topeka, Arkansas City, and several cities in Johnson County.
A city agenda report said common consumption could begin the week of Sept. 5.
“I really want to see Delano thrive as an incubator space for small businesses,” Glasscock said.
“A lot of the businesses in Delano operate on margins. And if we can help by bringing more people to this area by loosening government regulations… I think that’s how we can be an asset to… the growth of Delano.”
Businesses that want to participate in the common consumption area would have to pay for a $250 license with the city. That money would go toward signs that would be placed in the area to indicate where common consumption is allowed.
Those that say they are interested in participating, including The Monarch, said the change could make the neighborhood even more of a destination in the city.
“My hope is that having the convenience of that extra layer of fun and walkability makes Delano a top pick for events,” Monarch owner Jennifer Ray said, “because I would love to see the street shut down more often and more events showcasing how much this neighborhood’s grown.”
This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM.