WASHINGTON - The city is banking on cashing in on the inaugural celebration in January, and a move is now underway to make sure D.C. bars and restaurants make maximum profit from the festivities.

The idea is to facilitate celebrations and bring in additional revenue. The proposal before the city council is to lift the restrictions on restaurants and bars so they can stay open around the clock and serve alcohol until 5:00 in the morning. The extended hours would start the Saturday morning before the inauguration and run until the Wednesday morning afterward.

Some local bars and restaurants acknowledge the downturn in the economy is hurting them and welcome the help. Jesse Hamilton, the general manager of The Diner restaurant in D.C. said, "I think it's gonna be great for business. This inauguration in general is going to be great for this city."

"I think we are all feeling the pinch and I think the consumers know what's going on and they are reacting accordingly," Hamilton added.

D.C. residents like Paul Divito agreed the plan is a good idea. "If they want later hours to celebrate Obama's inauguration, I think that is great and cool and I think we should go for it," he enthused.

"I think it's awesome; I think it's great for the businesses," noted D.C. resident David Smelson.

Still, some residents who have long complained about noise traffic and trouble from neighborhood bars question the rationale behind the move. D.C. resident Bill Abbott lives just blocks from the heart of Adams Morgan's strip of bars and restaurants.

"I think there are other ways to celebrate the new president than by opening the bars until five o'clock in the morning -- that's crazy," Abbott said.

Some bars and restaurants don't anticipate that much late-night business even during the inauguration, so they aren't going to extend hours even if the city allows them to do so.