is brisbane dying?

years ago I worked in food services transport, and I was told a true indicator of the economy was how busy cafes, restaurants and clubs were. I took notice for a while during the gfc. I have been noticing over the last few months a decline in places open after 9pm on a friday and saturday night. last sat night and last night (fri) brisbane was for all intents and purposes and in my opinion, asleep in bed and in REM at 9.30pm. its a freaking ghost town. whats happening brisbane?
is it me, or did I miss something? I know that two drinks in the city cost me $20!!! fkn ell!

Most of my son's mates don't think about heading out until after 11 now, we were 3 parts smashed by then in the 80's

isnt there a 1am lockout in effect here?
I mean I dont drink all that much at all but it seems that if you dont like your booze there isnt a whole lot left to do here of a night.
maybe im just a gen x getting old?

It has been a slow decline for some time now.  Some of the stats I read are a bit worrying. ie. 30 years ago draught beer in pubs made up 70% of sales. Today it is only 15%. Total change in demographic. Of course 30 years ago there was no Dan Murphys or BWS. The pub business is not what it used to be.  A sad fact for a country like Australia.

I was born and bred there. Left in 93, but on an average go back every 6-8weeks.
Haven`t gone out there for a club/concert/pub binge since.
I do know the traffic gets worse every time I go, or seems to, which means there are lots of people still there. But I don`t know their entertainment trends too much anymore.

One thing for certain, every corner has a F*^%#N CAFE on it.
I use to, and still do a bit, go to West End to a particular Deli, that I`ve been going to for years before Café`s in Brisbane became Vogue!
The change over there has me not so happy.

eg: I use to go to the pub in Boundary St. I`d get a feed, then go to the pub for one quick one to wet the whistle. In stubbie form, I`d pay $5 for it, enjoy the ambiance of West End, that BEING, every culture and race know to man kind, use to coexist together, and inhabit this thriving pub as it was. That's what West End "Was" , and off I`d go.

Over my trips down there, they started refurbishing it. Another trip came about, and it was finished. I went in and asked for the my usual, noticing that the usual bar flies from years and years of use, weren`t there. I was met this time by a very young pretty girl, that cracked my stubbie and said, "that will be $8", I said F*&^%N WHAT, I`m not paying $8 for a $3 drink. She said you should have asked first, I said you should have told me you were going to rip me off, and drive away the usual customers, and out I walked and haven't been back.
Yes West end had a reputation for violence at some times, but its been transformed into some yuppie high list category, that now has lost its charm.
Is it a sign of the times in general through out Brisbane, and people are changing their trends?  Who knows.

But the local Pub, as it was through out time, in any part of Brisbane, doesn`t seem to exist anymore.
I think that's a said thing!!

All the pubs are being bought up by Coles or Woolworths. Process go up, old bar flies kicked out and no more skimpy bar maid's. What's the world coming to?