The six bars on the main strip of Highland Square will be back to their normal hours on Friday and Saturday night, a week after five shut down at midnight in what they called a “solidarity close” in response to a June 6 shooting on the block.
The late night shooting that wounded three people, reminiscent of a high profile-homicide in similar circumstances in October, was publicly blamed by city officials on people drawn to a Highland Tavern promotion.
At a press conference last Thursday, the city officials — including Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, Police Chief Brian Harding, Chief of Public Safety Craig Morgan, and Ward 1 City Council Member Fran WIlson — announced the five bars were closing early on June 12 and 13 and the “reckless” Highland Tavern chose not to…