Letting people walk around downtown with an alcoholic drink in hand — a rarity in Central Florida — was a bold gambit for St. Cloud. But five years later, the city says the move has been so successful that it is doubling down.
Earlier this month, the Osceola County city passed an ordinance extending outdoor alcohol consumption within its downtown entertainment district to seven days a week, up from Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Now, downtown bakery owner Laura Figueroa plans to start selling alcohol to take advantage of the new ordinance in hopes of attracting more customers.
“My customers have been asking for mimosas, so I’m going to work on getting my alcohol license,” said Figueroa, owner of Cakes Pastries & More.
Chef Jim Schreck, owner of Phyre Saloon and Steakhouse in downtown St. Cloud, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
The downtown district, which extends from 9th Street to 13th Street, serves as the heart of St. Cloud and is lined with brick streets and dozens of restaurants, bars, bakeries and small grocers.
Since 2021, residents have been permitted to walk outside within the district with an open container, as long as it is an approved, clear 16-ounce plastic cup.
The policy is unique in Osceola County; neighboring Kissimmee does not allow outdoor consumption of alcohol within its downtown.
Cakes Pastries & More owner Laura Figueroa at her shop in St. Cloud, Thursday, April 16, 2026. St. Cloud has passed a new ordinance that allows downtown businesses to sell alcohol seven days a week. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
It’s also rare regionwide. Orlando, which has the largest downtown in the area, allows outdoor drinking only in designated and permitted areas, such as during special events in Thornton Park. In Lake County, the city of Mount Dora allows outdoor alcohol consumption within its entertainment district but restricts it to four days of the week.
But just like in each of those cities, St. Cloud’s move comes amid discussions about how to promote economic prosperity while maintaining safety.
Figueroa said she’s excited for the change. The native of Puerto Rico said she’s hoping to see a 10% to15% increase in traffic to her business with the new ordinance.
“If I see more foot traffic because of this new law, then I’ll open later, too,” she added.
Jim Schreck, the owner and chef of Phyre Brewery & Tavern in St. Cloud, said the outdoor alcohol ordinance has brought his business more traffic since it first went into effect, and welcomed the recent addition of Sundays.
“It’s helped actually quite a bit, because we got people that can have a drink and then go shopping and come back,” Schreck said. “Sunday is a big day for people to come down for brunch.”
Nancy Rodriguez opened the downtown boutique Evalunastyles in February after years of selling her handcrafted sandals out of her garage. It’s been a slow start so far, she said, but she’s hopeful the seven-day ordinance will draw more people downtown who would patronize her shop.
“They can walk with something to drink and at the same time shop,” Rodriguez said. “We’re struggling … but we have good days and bad days. Most Thursday and Fridays are good.”
Whenever there is an event in downtown her sales get a boost, she said. “I wish they would do more events downtown.”
Not all in St. Cloud were in favor of the expansion. Dawn Lane, a St.Cloud native who moved back last year to her hometown after a few years in South Florida, said the growth of the city since she left has made it “totally different.” While sitting outside a café in downtown, Lane said that allowing alcohol consumption outdoors every day is worrisome.
“I don’t have a problem with drinking outside. I mean I’ve been to Paris and they do it there all day,” Lane said. “But… that long? The people who are responsible I don’t have any problems with. But the ones that aren’t, I just don’t know.”
Monkey’s in downtown St. Cloud, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Deputy Mayor Ken Gilbert had similar concerns. In the April 9 City Council meeting, he questioned if police had the capacity to handle patrolling the increased number of days that outdoor drinking would be allowed.
Police Chief Douglas Goerke said extending the days but keeping the same hours, 11 a.m. through midnight, makes it easier for everyone to know what the rules are.
“We don’t really have any issues with it,” Goerke said about the ordinance. “Our residents are amazing and they’re very responsive, so this will actually help us.”
For months, the city council had also debated the possibility of extending alcohol hours past midnight, echoing Kissimmee, but ultimately the council voted to keep the same hours.
Last week, though, city officials discussed ending alcohol sales earlier fore restaurants and limiting businesses’ ability to operate as a bar and serve only alcohol. Some business people worried those changes would thwart any gain in foot traffic in downtown.
“People go out at night and on the weekends to have dinner and then go out for something to do,” Schreck said.
If the city limits late night entertainment, he continued, “Who’s going to come downtown?”