Are al fresco dining, shopping here to stay?
The COVID-19 pandemic may produce a number of cultural changes — more space between people in line or different expectations for working from home, for instance — but some restaurants and businesses are betting on another change to attract more patrons at mealtimes.
Matthew Edwards, administrator for Zelienople Area Business Association, said the nearly dozen borough businesses that sought permits for outdoor seating or retail displays hope to capitalize on the trend of al fresco dining and shopping that became more commonplace during the pandemic.
Although Zelienople businesses began offering outdoor dining en masse due to indoor dining restrictions prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, Edwards said patrons enjoyed the al fresco option for reasons other than it being a place to eat outside of their home.
“When this started a year ago, it was just for the purpose of creating as much outdoor seating as possible to complement the tent seating we were setting up,” Edwards said. “It was such a success, and something we received so much positive feedback on a year ago. And that feedback didn't relate specifically to it being a COVID measure as much as it creating a nice, community environment in town.”
Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said the county is blessed with a number of good restaurants featuring attractive outdoor dining, such as the Saxonburg Hotel.
Cohen said these outdoor seating areas will likely see more use this year than in pre-pandemic summers and attributed that to two causes.“Everybody's going to want to be outside because they're going to feel more comfortable,” Cohen said, adding COVID-19 safety isn't the only reason to feel more comfortable. “It's nice. You've got a fresh breeze coming by. It's much more comfortable than sitting in a room, and it's a good option for restaurants if they have that ability.”Jeff Geibel, Butler Downtown president, said his organization took a more laissez-faire approach in Butler than Zelienople had. In Butler, the association “strategically” placed tables along Main Street to provide options for diners.Despite the more hands-off approach, downtown Butler saw an increase in al fresco dining, and the tables are back “long-term.”“People, generally speaking, in nice weather, like having a place to sit outside,” Geibel said.In other words, COVID-19 may have been the impetus for the proliferation of outdoor dining, but its popularity may be here to stay.“It's one of those things that because COVID-19 forced us to make these adjustments, and it forced business owners to get creative, people went, 'This is really nice,'” Edwards said.
In Butler Township, the successes weren't as widespread, according to township manager Tom Knights, owing in part to some landlord restrictions against outdoor dining.Despite that, Knights said, at least one restaurant “took full advantage” of outdoor dining and is looking to incorporate al fresco eating into its long-term business plans.With COVID-19 restaurant capacity restrictions lifted by the summer, businesses of all types still applied for and received permits to erect outdoor seating or retail displays.The Zelienople business association still has its dining tents established, and Edwards hopes the trend of dining and shopping outdoors will have a positive effect on businesses.The lifting of restrictions doesn't mean the pandemic is over, Edwards realized, and there are some patrons who may be more comfortable dining or shopping outside or mainly being outside. The new practice benefits them, too.Such patrons can “walk down Main Street with that ice cream cone and look at everything that is offered on Main Street here, and it's certainly a great opportunity for businesses like (Eva Bryn) Shoetique to put their wares out there and maybe attract people inside their stores in the future,” he said.In the city, Butler Downtown plans to again host events such as Foodie Fridays, which may see some increased popularity with outdoor eating becoming en vogue.“We're still dealing with COVID, but that's an open-air, outdoor event where people can enjoy food and beverages in a safe way,” Geibel said.
Cohen said there are some concerns, both from each municipality's and from the business' point of view, with establishing outdoor dining. For instance, limitations on a restaurant's liquor license may preclude them from offering alcoholic beverages outdoors.Geibel agreed, noting there were some logistical issues Butler Downtown tried to figure out early on. For instance, the organization had to provide liability insurance for at least one property, and the restaurants — including two he described as “rivals” — had to cooperate to ensure trash cans were being cleaned.Despite the occasional difficulties in establishing outdoor seating, it can still be a benefit to the patrons and businesses.“If they have facilities and they can utilize them, that's great,” Cohen said. “If they're trying to rig something up, they've got to get approvals from the community. There's some regulations they've got to follow, but it's a great option if you can do it.”
