Bars dealing with large crowds

With Little 500 week underway, local bars and clubs are pacing themselves to accommodate large numbers of students, out-of-towners and untamed partygoers. \nWith extra staff, security and precautionary step available, bars and clubs are preparing for the heavy influx of partyers this weekend, said Gregg Rago, manager of Nick’s English Hut. \n“We have got to have a game plan,” Rago said. “Our staff is pretty seasoned when it comes to managing big crowds, but this weekend we have extra employees working the door and monitoring the club.” \nThe maximum capacity of people allowed in the building is around 500 according to the fire marshal, Rago said.\n“Of course, we never let it get too ‘over the top’ in here, we like to crowds because everyone is having a good time and that attracts business,” said Rago. \nWhen the maximum capacity of the club is reached, security will usually ask people to wait outside, he said.\nWith so much business this time of year, many bars are even more stringent with their rules than during the “regular season.” Kilroy’s will not allow its usual “pass-outs” this weekend in which it allows people to go outside and come back in as they please with a pass, said Kilroy’s owner Linda Prall.\n“We are doing all that we can to keep this weekend from getting out of control,” Prall said. \nWhen people go outside to get fresh air or take a break from the loud noises and large crowds, they will have to go to the back of the line to get back in, she said. \n“We will have plenty of extra security, we will even be using extra cash registers and such to compensate for all the business,” she said. \nKilroy’s Sports Bar, 319 N. Walnut St., and Kilroys Restaurant on Kirkwood are known for being pretty rowdy during the week of Little 500, said Prall, who admitted that the sports bar has already seen very large crowds this week.