Business & Tech

Outdoor Music for Wildwood Restaurant Draws Loud Opposition

Six residents spoke at a recent city council meeting and said allowing amplified outdoor music at Big Chief would negatively impact their quality of life.

A request for amplified outdoor music at the Big Chief Restaurant in Wildwood is drawing loud opposition from the restaurant’s residential neighbors.

Six of them gave impassioned pleas to the Wildwood City Council Monday to not approve an amendment to Big Chief’s governing ordinance that would allow patio shows under set circumstances.

The residents each shared stories of peaceful evenings outside on their own patios or in their yards shattered by loud music drifting over from Big Chief – music they say was being played in violation of the ordinance preventing it.

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The restaurant is situated along Manchester Road in the Historic Pond District, an area of the city that is more rural and secluded than where its food service competitors are located, such as Town Center Plaza.

“The music on the patio is not a good thing,” said Randall Herberg, who described himself as living 330 feet from the restaurant’s patio. “My quality of life has declined since big chief had its grand opening a year ago.”

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Their arguments appeared to change the minds of several council members who had previously shown tentative support and cast into doubt the likelihood that it will be approved when it comes up for a second and final reading at the council’s next meeting.

It’s not the first time an owner of the restaurant has asked for the music, and each time, similar outcries have shut it down.

While there have been calls to police and complaints filed, the current owner, Stephanie Mulholland, has not been formally cited. Mulholland took over ownership of the restaurant recently and was also at the meeting and addressed the council briefly.

“The only thing I am asking for is for an entrepreneur, a citizen of Wildwood and someone who has invested money into Wildwood to be able to compete fairly with the other restaurants in town,” she said.

Residents described their feelings upon hearing that outdoor music might be approved for the restaurant as “shock” and “betrayal.”

“Now you are telling me I have to listen to amplified music in my back yard?” said Kasey Griffin. “I don’t think so. That is not okay.”

The ordinance currently allows for live indoor music only. The amendment before the city council would allow music any two nights of the week, but only between the hours of 5:30-9:30 p.m. and bands would be limited to three members.

Ward One Councilman David Geile had voiced strong opposition to the outdoor music and reiterated that stance Monday. He noted that it had been turned down by the council before and said “nothing has changed.”

“To allow outdoor music at this juncture is insulting to these residents,” he said.

A stricter version of the ordinance, which would have allowed music only on Friday and Saturday, had received anonymous support from the city’s planning and zoning commission, but was amended in a recent work session to be more broad.

“I think I have to support the predominant expression of the residents in this ward,” said Ward One Councilman Larry McGowen. “I was okay with the idea of supporting the planning and zoning recommendation, but I think this is just a trainwreck looking to happen.”

Support for the ordinance continued to come from Ward Three Councilwoman Tammy Shea, who argued that there are other restaurants with live music in Wildwood located next to higher density residential developments. 

“We are denying a business a level playing field for what we are allowing at other businesses at Wildwood,” she said.


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