Soloman Wassef’s dream of opening a tiki bar in downtown Lakeland is one step closer to reality. The Lakeland City Commission voted unanimously on Monday to grant a conditional use permit for the proposed Island Breeze bar, located under his already existing Lakeland Loft.
“I cannot be more proud to be in Lakeland than in any other city,” Wassef said just before the vote.
As Lakeland continues its transformation of the areas in and around Munn Park, various boards and officials are weighing how to nurture downtown nightlife while avoiding pitfalls that other municipalities have encountered.
The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority held a board retreat recently to discuss everything from the number of bars that downtown can support to how often streets should be closed and the best ways to prevent rowdy behavior.
Read more here.