St. Pete Mermaid Restaurant seats in parking lots

NS. PETERSBURG – The city of St. Pete will no longer allow restaurants to hold tables in parking lots starting October 18.

What you need to know

• Companies were informed last week that the program would end in mid-October
• Bandit Coffee on Central Avenue launched a petition from change.org to try to rethink the city.
• The city is considering a long-term solution, which, however, would not include the concrete barriers
• More headlines in Pinellas County

City spokesman Ben Kirby said the concrete barriers marked “Restart St. Pete” will be removed later this month. These barriers were put up in front of nearly two dozen restaurants last year to allow more outdoor seating amid the pandemic.

Companies were informed last week that the program will end in mid-October and they will have to remove their tables.

The city sent polls to 914 downtown business owners in July asking for their opinions on the roadside tables. They received 18 responses and Kirby said 61% of these companies were unhappy with tables hindering parking.

Bandit Coffee on Central Avenue launched a petition from change.org to try to rethink the city. At the beginning of their petition it says: “The city has not asked or consulted small businesses or citizens for feedback on this measure. This is our chance to let them know how we feel. “

The owner of The Lure, also on Central Avenue, said the city hadn’t asked her for her opinion either. Or if they did, they never saw the email or notice.

“Just having fewer seats for people will definitely hurt our business a little. I mean, I’m grateful for what we have here, ”said owner Tom Golden.

Kirby said the city is considering a long-term solution, but that doesn’t address the specific barriers.

“We are currently working on a proposal for a long-term, permanent program that will include setting minimum design standards, annual permit fees and site criteria,” he wrote in an email to Spectrum Bay News 9.

Golden would definitely consider that, and he understands why some companies want extra parking back.

“There’s always the other side of the coin in any situation and there’s one in this,” he said.

Tables are still allowed on the sidewalk in various areas of the city center.

The post St. Pete Mermaid Restaurant seats in parking lots first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/st-pete-mermaid-restaurant-seats-in-parking-lots/