Curbside Dining Restaurant Week kicks off in New York City, runs through Sept. 12
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Restaurant Week may be over, but the first-ever Curbside Dining Restaurant Week is just getting started.
The week-long initiative, organized by Open Plans in partnership with Untapped New York, kicked off on Friday and runs through Sept. 12.
Thirty-nine restaurants across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx are participating and will be offering special menu items, as well as exclusive discounts and promotions.
The initiative is designed to help boost outdoor dining in the city all year round.
The sheds are now regulated by the Department of Transportation after legislation from the city council.
"It was really complicated, the rules were very strict and very difficult and it cost a lot of money so we decide to bet on it," Angelique Ruftygraux, owner of Café Paulette, said.
New York City's curbside dining program originally launched as an emergency response during the COVID pandemic, but has evolved since then.
"Business owners have poured their hearts, souls, time, and money into the curbside dining program-but it has become too burdensome. City leaders must make curbside dining year-round, flexible, and equitable so that it truly supports small businesses and reflects the diverse, dynamic energy of this city," said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director at Open Plans.
Open Plans, which advocates for public use of street space, organized the week of discounts and freebies to bring attention to local businesses but also push for more flexibility to the sidewalk cafe regulations.
"Really come out and show that people really want this because we know New Yorkers are voting with their dollars and their rear ends. They're sitting down they're eating, they're spending money at establishments and we want that to continue to be a great asset and feature in New York City going forward," Jackson Chabot, Director of Advocacy, said.
There are specific rules when it comes to roadway sheds' size and location and the DOT says 1,000 permits have been issued so far.
Unlike during the pandemic, curbside dining is now only allowed between April 1 and November 29.
The owner of Bear Donuts & Honey's Ice Cream in Midtown says she would prefer to keep it year-round.
"This is important because we don't have a lot of seating, because New York rent is really high, we don't have many seating inside the store," Honey Kim said.
The city council says its is listening to feedback but, "utilization must be a priority, and we hope the Department of Transportation is likewise seeking ways to fix its management to better help restaurants successfully navigate the major transition from a practically free program without rules during a state of emergency and ensure maximum participation."
For more information on Curbside Dining Restaurant Week, and the participating restaurants, you can visit Open Plan's website.
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