Seaside tests outdoor dining to help boost businesses
SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) Seaside will join other cities on the Central Coast in facilitating an outdoor dining program on Saturday. If the night is both busy and safe, the city said it'll run the program again on the following weekend.
Starting at 5 p.m., Broadway Avenue will be closed off between Santa Barbara Street and Alhambra Street.
"A lot of people have been so closed up, nowhere to go. I think it’d be nice for them to come out and do something like that," resident Carla Anderegg said.
Residents said they're excited for restaurants to take to the street so that they can dine outside. And employees did too--especially at The Hem Nutrition.
"We’ve gone through so much with the shelter-in-place, all the protesting that’s happening," employee Jessica Powell said. "But we just want to provide a space for our community to come. To feel loved, to feel special."
So, the city is closing off part of Broadway Avenue to traffic. That way, restaurants can set up tables and chairs for people to eat in a socially distanced way, aligned with state regulations. The city said the program is important because, with indoor dining, the businesses can only accommodate half their normal capacity. But with outdoor dining, they get more space for more customers.
"Whether you’re inside or outside, if you follow the rules, I think it’d be okay with me," Anderegg said.
And employees said they hope this is a step toward reopening fully.
"And going back to how things were before," Powell said.
They said customers were less nervous lately, so they think things are looking positive for these businesses over the next few weeks. This came as the Monterey County Health Department reported a more than 6 percent positivity rate for people getting tested for COVID-19.
"I think people are aware. Maybe not as fearful as before, but definitely aware," Powell said.
The city asked that people walk, ride their bikes, or use public transportation to get to Broadway Avenue for the program on Saturday. They want to keep limited parking open for those who need to drive.
