Anyone heading to downtown Kissimmee might notice some extra safety measures, as businesses come together to pay for increased security.

Felix Ortiz, who has been at the helm of 3 Sisters Speakeasy on Dakin Avenue for the last decade, said he was drawn to all the opportunity in the downtown area.

“Kissimmee is a nice area," he said. "You know business is booming, it is growing, and I decided to come here as a chef and then, long story short, I bought the building." 

But Ortiz said the location is not without its problems. Earlier this month, right across the street, there was a shooting at Breeze.

Back in March, police responded to a shooting between drivers that killed one and injured two others near the downtown area, and then in October, a shooting left one person injured near Michigan Avenue.

Ortiz said the shooting at Breeze is what prompted five businesses in the area to come together to team up to make a change.

“Small businesses here at Dakin and Broadway we got together and now there are officers in the weekend making sure everything is a lot safer, that they see the cops and people can sit down, relax, eat drink have a good time like it used to be before,” said Ortiz. 

The group has now hired private security and, according to the city, then starting earlier this month, the group started paying for an additional off-duty officer to patrol their area on weekend nights. Ortiz says on average, it runs him about $200 dollars a day.

“Things happen," he said. "We don’t want it to happen, but now with extra security we are going to try to enforce it more and make sure that people feel more comfortable."

Ortiz explained that he still thinks Kissimmee is safe and that the police do a good job, and hiring private security is just to add an extra layer of safety.

“We always have police officers right there in the corners. Always," Ortiz said. "They put one car here, one car there. Some of them are always walking around — they are always coming in and out."

While it is an extra expense for his small business, Ortiz said safety is his top priority.

“I want to make sure that our customers are comfortable," he said. "So if we have to have the extra security for now, as long as we need it, we will keep it."

Spectrum News reached out to the city of Kissimmee about the measures being taken by these businesses and asked if they had any plans to enhance safety in the area. 

A city spokesperson released a statement that read, in part: 

 “The city of Kissimmee is in the planning phase of posting a workshop where we will be able to have discussions with the city commission, public safety and local businesses. In this conversation, we want to consider the potential of a variety of options that are beneficial for everyone involved.”

The statement also said that officials plan to continue to work to make downtown Kissimmee a destination.