The on-street dining areas on Main Street are coming to a close as the cooler temperatures and rainy weather are approaching. The expanded outdoor dining areas will close after dinner service on Sunday, September 19.
The patios that are located on sidewalks will mainly stay open, weather permitting.
The City of Bellevue would like residents to experience these spaces and then fill out a survey about their experience so that future programs can be improved. This will ensure that the program continues to be valuable for all stakeholders. According to the City of Bellevue’s press release, It will help them as they work with businesses to create a more vibrant streetscape in the future.
“Our local businesses, the city, and customers deserve great credit for making the al fresco program a success,” said Patrick Bannon, President of the Bellevue Downtown Association. “It’s rewarding to see the special value it gives the community and our restaurants as they recover from the pandemic.”
Last year’s survey had 80% of respondents say that the patio areas made them more likely to visit Main Street again. One in three said that they made a purchase at a retailer while they were dining out in these spaces, indicating the dining areas benefit as well as the retailers.
“This survey is one way the city can better understand how residents and users of the spaces feel about the tradeoff between various uses of the street,” said Mac Cummins, director of Community Development for the city. “This will help us plan for the future of the program on Main Street and, hopefully, develop other valuable programs across the city.”
To learn more about the city’s outdoor dining program and complete the program survey, visit their website. Restaurant operators can visit the page to learn more about options for outdoor space expansion during the winter.
