Summer 2019

Paul Compagnon
The Downtown Connection: Bartender at The Volstead
and he lives in a loft above the popular bar.
v v v v v
What are the best things about Downtown — and about being in
Downtown on a daily basis?
The nightlife, and the fact that everything is within a pretty walkable
distance. I mean, let’s say you just saw a show at the Florida Theatre and
then you want to go to some cool place Downtown to eat or grab a drink.
You can do easily; it’s just a quick walk.
What is the biggest misconception that people have about Downtown?
That it’s crime-ridden and overrun with homeless people. There is a
slight problem as far as transients, but it’s nowhere near as major a problem
as people make it out to be.
If you could change one thing about Downtown, what would it be?
We need a grocery store, big time. And it would be great to have even
more dining options late at night. We’re still lacking that, and that’s what is
keeping us from not only being like big downtowns across the country, but
even ones in other Florida cities like Tampa and Orlando.
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J MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019