Fountain Row is an Entertainment Destination Center (EDC) in Downtown BGKY, launched by the City of Bowling Green on July 15, 2022. Fountain Row provides a boost to local hospitality and tourism by inviting customers to purchase to-go alcoholic drinks in designated cups from participating licensed businesses within its boundaries. Fountain Row encourages visitors and locals to explore more of Downtown BGKY’s historic streets and parks, window shop, and discover new experiences. There are over a dozen EDCs in Kentucky, all actively promoting their individual downtown experiences!
Operating Hours:
Fountain Rows to-go service hours are daily, 11am-9pm.
Rules:
All participating businesses are designated with distinct Fountain Row window clings and posted rules. All to-go alcoholic drinks must be purchased from a participating business within the Fountain Row boundaries and served in an approved cup. Cups must be carried in public spaces and disposed of before entering any business or exiting Fountain Row boundary. Scan the cup’s QR code for a full Fountain Row map and rules.
Boundary:
Fountain Row covers the most heavily foot-trafficked areas of Downtown BGKY. Signs at the boundaries indicate its entry and exits limits. Welcome informational signs within Fountain Row indicate operating days and hours.
Fountain Row FAQ
In Kentucky, municipalities can establish an Entertainment Destination Center that allows patrons at participating restaurants and bars to leave the premise with an alcoholic beverage in a specially-marked cup.
Alcoholic beverages purchased from a business in Fountain Row must be consumed within the boundaries. (See map)
Alcoholic beverages are allowed on public property in approved Fountain Row cups daily, 11am-9pm.
No, only drinks purchased from a participating business in Fountain Row are allowed by state law. No cans, glass bottles, or outside drinks are permitted with the boundaries. Anyone with alcohol on public property not purchased from a participating business during permitted hours or during a designated special event can be cited and/or arrested.
No. Fountain Row cups are only permitted for a single use when leaving a downtown business to walk to another location within the area.
Should patrons leave the boundary, they can be cited and/or arrested.
In August 2016, the State of Kentucky adopted legislation allowing municipalities to create local Entertainment Destination Centers in their tourism and convention districts, mostly in downtowns. To date, over a dozen municipalities have passed local ordinances to create these, including Paducah, Danville, Owensboro, Louisville, Lexington, Morehead, Covington, Maysville, Midway, Bellevue, Somerset, Corbin, and the CVG Airport.
Want more information?
Visit the Fountain Row section on the City of Bowling Green’s Downtown Development website.
Own a licensed restaurant/bar/venue within Fountain Row and want to join the fun?
Entertainment Destination Center in Downtown BGKY Timeline
2016
Kentucky legislature approves ability for municipalities to create Entertainment Destination Centers for carrying of alcohol in designated public spaces in approved cups.
January
2021
Board of Commissioners support the establishment of an Entertainment Destination Center (EDC). City staff begin research and develop a plan.
October
2021
City hosts a Downtown BGKY focus group to gather feedback on its existing research and develop a more in-depth EDC plan.
December
2021
City conducts a job search and hires Downtown Development Coordinator whose responsibilities partially include the communication and activation of an EDC.
February
2022
City hosts a Downtown stakeholders meeting of 50+ people (residents, business owners, property owners, etc.) to gather more feedback on proposed EDC plan.
March & April
2022
City staff present EDC plans to Board of Commissions for two public work sessions in March. EDC ordinance is first read in April, and passes at a second ordinance reading in May.
May
2022
Public notice publishes in the BG Daily News and is open for a 30-day comment period. The City applies to the state for an EDC license. State inspects Fountain Row EDC boundaries.
July 15,
2022
After the State approves the boundaries, the City celebrates the launch of Fountain Row, an Entertainment Destination Center in Downtown BGKY.