[2014-04-10] BitcoinMagazine.com: Take a Walk Down Bitcoin Boulevard

[coinneo]

A huge Thank You to Bitcoin Magazine for covering our story:

http://bitcoinmagazine.com/12247/take-walk-bitcoin-boulevard/

References:

Our official press release:

http://bitcoinboulevard.us/lee-road-businesses-embrace-digital-currency-bitcoin-boulevard-us/

Our bitcointalk.org announcement from earlier today here:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=564032.msg6158328#msg6158328

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[LiteCoinGuy]

good luck with this project but you also have to give a discount for the people that want to pay in BTC

[coinneo]

Thanks!

We want to offer incentives for visitors regardless of payment mechanism. We really want this to be an inclusive event, even for people who do not own bitcoins. Awareness is preeminent really. Before May 1 we will be releasing incentives through the website, which can be redeemed at each store. These may be perpetual incentives unique to the website. This would be a way to keep drawing people to towards Bitcoin awareness using our site, and then towards shopping at the merchants' stores, regardless of payment method.

We are always open to suggestions as we move forward!

[kjlimo]

If you're local, be sure to join the Cleveland Bitcoin Meetup:

http://www.meetup.com/Cleveland-Bitcoin/

There will be an event to promote the kick off of Bitcoin Boulevard in Cleveland:

http://www.meetup.com/Cleveland-Bitcoin/events/174899202/

[coinneo]

Thanks for posting those kjlimo, we are definitely trying to increase membership to this group.

[Bit_Happy]

Great work coinneo, I hope it keeps growing. 
Speaking of growing, is Ohio making progress on legal pot? (not medical/like Colorado)

[coinneo]

Ohio has pretty relaxed laws already on possession, but its still a crime. I do not see Ohio budging on this topic for a long time, as the state government is extremely conservative. We have a million archaic laws that need to be changed.

Even this Bitcoin project we have to be very, very cautious as vendors' liquor licenses are a big consideration. I have been in contact with lawyers at Ohio Liquor Control, the Federal Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), and the Ohio Department of Public Safety about all of this. So far, Liquor Control has taken "no stance", and the TTB does not care at all what payment mechanism is rendered for alcohol so long as they get their tax money. Still waiting on word from Department of public Safety, as they are the ones that actually enforce the liquor laws.

My conversations with the regulators have so far been very positive. When asked "Can an Ohio bar/brewery accept Bitcoin as payment from customers and not jeopardize their liquor license?", they admit "We have never been asked this question before". But, they have been diligent in getting us an answer so far, and have been receptive to my request in being included in future conversations they may have about this topic.