Stay updated with breaking news from Laura ahramjian. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
When outdoor dining was introduced in Philly last spring, it was meant to be a lifeline for businesses that were unable to host diners inside as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It was scrappy, fast-moving, and ever-changing, but it wasn’t necessarily meant to last long. Then, as summer waned into fall and into a very cold winter, outdoor dining began to feel more permanent in some neighborhoods, the city feels transformed. Colorful awnings and Parisian-style seating line parking spots and parking lots, and even take over entire city blocks. In June 2020, the city of Philadelphia expanded permits for outdoor “streeteries,” allowing restaurants to take over space that was previously not available to them: curbside parking spots, empty lots, significantly more sidewalk space, and in some cases, entire city blocks. For now, those licenses will be recognized through December 31, 2021, which means that technically on January 1, 2022, restaurants will have to pack up th ....