Glen Cove To Close Downtown Streets For Outdoor Dining
GLEN COVE, NY — Glen Cove will close two major streets to cars three nights a week to spur outdoor restaurant dining and help local businesses adjust to life during the coronavirus era.
The city discussed ideas to help businesses reopen for sit-down service with the Downtown Business Improvement District, officials said in a news release Tuesday. One of those ideas: closing off School Street and Glen Street to cars in the downtown area Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The closures would allow restaurants to set up more tables and chairs in the street and allow customers to social distance. Officials noted both indoor and outdoor dining will be limited and won't begin until at least phase three of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's reopening plan.
Nassau County has confirmed more than 40,000 cases of the COVID-19 disease as of Monday evening. Over 2,100 people have died in the county. Glen Cove has confirmed more than 874 cases.
Under Cuomo's current guidelines, restaurants must remain at no more than 50 percent capacity once they're allowed to offer sit-down service again, which could still be several weeks away on Long Island.
Patricia Holman, executive director of the local business improvement district, and John Zozzaro, owner of The Downtown Café and member of the district's board of directors, discussed the idea with downtown food proprietors and assessed the seating capacity and space for each location.
Holman called the outdoor dining plan a "great way" to support downtown restaurants.
"Other communities across the U.S. are already doing this successfully," she said. "We are lucky to have the option to do this in Glen Cove and a community that is supportive."
Holman said the comprehensive plan allows restaurants to have outdoor seating in a way that does not interfere with businesses that close at 5 p.m.
Zozzaro said it's primarily about peoples' health.
"Having customers outside means they can be farther apart than inside the restaurant, and it's safer for my staff as well," he said.
Mayor Tim Tenke was receptive to the idea and has reviewed it with police. Once the governor allows Long Island restaurants to reopen, Glen Cove will implement the plan, he said.
"I am very supportive of our local restaurant owners reopening in a way that will be safe and encourage people to enjoy our Downtown restaurants," Tenke said in a statement. "As soon as the Governor gives the Long Island region the green light on dining, the Glen Cove Downtown restaurants will be ready to go."
Restaurants will need to obtain permits to offer outdoor seating, but the city said it will waive any permit fee.
Holman and members of the business improvement district board will assess the needs of the restaurants and work with them to help secure what is needed.
This article originally appeared on the Glen Cove Patch
