Downtown Greeley will soon see expanded outdoor dining along 8th and 9th Street plazas
By Kelly Ragan
It’s official: 8th and 9th Street plazas in downtown Greeley will transform into outdoor seating to boost restaurant and bar revenue following months of coronavirus related losses.
Greeley City Council unanimously voted to approve the ordinance after a public hearing at a special meeting Tuesday night, after weeks of back and forth between business owners, residents and lawyers.
Several downtown business owners, including Aaron Wooten, owner of Cranford’s Tea Tavern and Greeley Chophouse, Matt Estrin, owner of Tower 56, and Brian Seifried, owner of Wing Shack and co-owner at Luna’s Tacos & Tequila, spoke in favor of the vote, representing a larger group of downtown supporters.
“There are several businesses that won’t be here in a month,” Wooten said. “I really want you to consider that. There is more than a little bit of skin in game.”
Downtown business owners, city employees and Downtown Development Authority employees have been working for weeks to hammer out the details and abide by state regulations.
The idea is to turn 8th and 9th Street plazas into a sort of food court area. Folks will be able to buy food and drink (or bring their own) from any restaurant or bar in the area and sit at whatever table they want. That way, each restaurants and bar downtown doesn’t have to figure out a way to establish their own outdoor seating area.
The permit, which is revocable, sunsets September 12.
What will that look like?
This won’t be like Friday Fest. The whole idea is to bring people out to enjoy the downtown scene while keeping them socially distanced. Here are some of the rules businesses will need to follow:
Groups seated together will be limited to eight people.
Tables will be set six feet apart.
Employees will be wearing face coverings.
Shared surfaces (think tables) will be disinfected and deep cleaned between uses.
Tables can be placed along sidewalks and parking stall areas, but the streets themselves will remain clear.
Liquor-serving establishments interested in expanding their outdoor seating have to apply and get approval to expand. The city usually charges $150 for the application. So does the state. The city waived its fee, and thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Greeley Area Recovery Fund, the city will cover the state fee too.
Downtown businesses won’t be the only ones to benefit from expanded outdoor seating. Restaurants and bars across Greeley can apply to expand their outdoor seating options. Some, such as Kenny’s Steakhouse, Key Largo Lounge and Old Chicago have already applied to temporarily modify their premises to expand outdoor seating options.
At the meeting, Seifried said that though the pandemic has stripped Greeley of the events it usually loves, such as the Arts Picnic, Blues Jam and Greeley Stampede, this effort can give the community a chance to celebrate.
“We’re willing to work with our friends and neighbors who have been inconvenienced and accommodate the needs of the community as a whole to make sure there is as little impact as possible,” Seifried said.
And some folks are worried about the inconvenience.
A couple downtown property owners raised concerns over parking for residents and office spaces.
At the meeting, Mayor John Gates said he’s cognizant of the fact the move will impact parking, but that did not deter his vote.
“Remember this is temporary,” Gates said. “It will expire September 12 and it is a revocable permit. If this train comes off the tracks, we will get it back on the tracks, I’m certain of that.”
By Wednesday, barriers (necessary according to liquor licensing rules) were already going up on the plazas to block off sections for outdoor seating.