The planning commission on Wednesday night unanimously approved a request from the owners of Redcoats British Pub and Restaurant to have DJ music and dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Redcoats is the second downtown business granted a city permit for music in the past three months. Barone's Restaurant, which is a block a way on St. John Street, was granted a permit to play outdoor music on its front deck until 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. for the rear patio, six days a week.

The Redcoats approval came despite concerns from a few neighbors about noise and smoking. The bar and restaurant at 336 St. Mary's Street already offers DJ music and dancing from 9:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Owner Mari Kennard told the planning commission that part of her reasoning for added two days of DJ music and dancing was to spur business during the tough economic times and she hopes the Wednesday-Thursday format will attract an older crowd and offset losses from having to discontinue breakfast service.

"I think if you talk to all downtown merchants, you will find that we are all in survival mode," Kennard said. "We are doing what needs to be done to get through this economic time and to be here when things turn around. ... My hope is that with Wednesday and Thursday nights it will allow me to expand my age group."

Permanent expansion of Redcoats and Barone's hours for music followed the Pleasanton Downtown Association's temporary permit

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issued June 19 that allowed any downtown business to play outdoor music until 9 p.m. from July 1 to Dec. 31.

Many downtown business owners as well as the Pleasanton Downtown Association voiced support for Redcoats' request before the commission, saying the approval was vital to creating a more vibrant downtown.

"We need this," said Judy Wheeler, president of the Pleasanton Downtown Association and owner of Town Center Books. "It's a tough economy and people only have so much disposable income and they have a lot of options so we want to be sure we have what people want."

Among the conditions of approval, Redcoats has 15 days from the date of approval to install cigarette butt receptacles near a smoking bench set up on the west side of the building that serves as the smoking area. The commission also required Redcoats to install signs so patrons know to use the smoking area.

Robert Jordan covers Pleasanton and Dublin. Reach him at 925-847-2184.