by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
Drunken brawls in and around Frontier Restaurant caused the business to end its 24-hour food service on weekends, said Dorothy Rainosek, co-owner of the restaurant.
Starting Friday, the Frontier will be closed from 1:30 to 4 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It will stay open 24 hours the other days of the week. The restaurant started its 24-hour service in 1991.
Rainosek said the crowd that comes in after the Downtown bars close is to blame for the change in hours.
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"They tend to be drunk and belligerent and disruptive," she said. "You don't want to jeopardize any of your employees or customers."
The most recent incident occurred Saturday at about 2:50 a.m., she said.
Daniel Suazo, a Frontier employee, said he was working when Saturday's fight started.
"They started throwing plates, silverware, salt and pepper shakers and glasses," he said. "One guy got hit in the face."
Dishes, utensils and food were thrown against walls and hit some paintings, Rainosek said.
Suazo said about 50 people were involved in the fight.
"It was very intense," he said. "They were getting up on the tables."
Rainosek said Albuquerque Police Department officers had to assist security guards in stopping the fight.
Student Saad Elmaghalawi said he is disappointed the restaurant will be closed during those times, because he likes to go to the restaurant around 2 a.m. to meet up with friends.
Elmaghalawi said that he has never felt in danger at the Frontier, despite witnessing violence there.
"I've seen someone get stabbed," he said.
Student Mary Seiler said she doesn't like the new hours.
"It sucks for students who are insomniacs, who wait to start papers until one in the morning and are in need of sustenance," she said.
With nine security guards and between one and four APD officers, there were still too many problems to stay open 24 hours on the weekend, Rainosek said.
"We finally have to take a stand against allowing intoxicated people to create havoc," she said.
Elmaghalawi said the security guards should be able to handle the drunken crowds.
"I think they're kind of slacking," he said. "They should have it (security) come in earlier."
Rainosek said she doesn't know exactly how many fights happened, but it's been worse since more bars opened Downtown in the last three years.
"It's sad because we have a lot of good customers," she said.
Student JoRae Taylor said the schedule change will affect her routine, but it doesn't bother her.
"If there's unsafe work conditions between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., the workers shouldn't have to be in it," she said.
Rainosek said time will tell how much money the restaurant will lose, but it won't affect the business much.
"It's going to be offset by not having APD and less security," she said. "That'll probably cut security costs in half."
Student Nathan Simpson said Frontier's business will have to go somewhere else.
"I'm scared for what's going to happen to Denny's," he said.
Denny's is two blocks east of Frontier at 2608 Central Ave. N.E.
Rainosek said Denny's is expecting more people as a result of Frontier being closed.
"I just hope they don't have the problems we have," she said.
Rosa Zamarron, general manager of the Denny's, said the staff is prepared to handle the overflow.
"The few times that the Frontier has closed, we picked up their business along with our business," she said.
Denny's will hire two security guards to work on Friday and Saturday nights, one inside the restaurant and one outside, she said.
The effects won't be known until after the weekend, but she looks forward to the extra customers, she said.
Zamarron expects to see about $1,500 more in revenue each night on Fridays and Saturdays, she said.
Seiler said the new hours will change Frontier's image.
"Frontier's reliable," she said. "It's always there."
Frontier Restaurant's new hours:
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the restaurant will be closed from 1:30 to 4 a.m. It will remain open 24 hours the other days of the week.
