Outdoor dining, which has provided a lifeline for many restaurant owners, may continue through the winter.
City and state officials are in discussions to extend the Open Restaurants program, which currently expires Oct. 31, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Read more
Commercial
New York
Outdoor dining to return next summer — for restaurants that survive
Commercial
New York
New York City indoor dining postponed indefinitely
Commercial
New York
Outdoor dining goes professional
Some restaurants feel the continued ability to serve sit-down patrons despite colder weather will allow a much-needed income stream to continue, especially as there’s been no movement on when indoor dining could resume. Others say the requirements to provide heaters will eat up any additional revenue.
“I’m just trying to stay ahead of the grim reaper,” Ron Silver, owner of Bubby’s in Tribeca, told the Journal.
The coronavirus-induced shutdowns have been a death knell for many restaurants, particularly those with expensive leases. Last month, 83 percent of restaurants failed to pay full rent, while 37 percent paid no rent at all, according to a survey of 471 establishments by the New York City Hospitality Alliance.
A spokesperson for mayor Bill de Blasio said the conversation about prolonging outdoor dining and reopening indoor dining are “on separate tracks.”
Earlier this week, de Blasio announced that outdoor dining would become a permanent fixture in the city every summer. The season will commence June 1 each year. [WSJ] — Erin Hudson