Ry Marchant chats with customers enjoying Pasture’s new sidewalk cafe. (Photo by Lena Price)
Richmond is cutting the red tape off of some restaurants’ patio furniture.
A recently passed ordinance that makes it easier for city restaurants to offer outdoor dining was formally unveiled Wednesday by Mayor Dwight Jones.
About eight restaurants have expressed interest in sidewalk cafe permits since the process was put in place in November, said Richmond planning director Mark Olinger.
Click the image above to see the city’s instructions for sidewalk cafe permit applications.
Before the ordinance change, city council had to approve any restaurant’s request for outdoor seating, a process that could take months. Now the Bureau of Permits and Inspections will process the applications, and Olinger said it would take about 10 days to receive approval.
“Essentially it’s easier, cheaper, and there’s less bureaucracy involved,” Olinger said.
It costs $150 to apply for a permit, and restaurants will have to pay an annual $100 maintenance fee. Under the old system, the process could cost up to $1,000, Olinger said.
Restaurants will have to bring their outdoor furniture inside every night and won’t be allowed to install permanent fixtures, such as fences. Restaurants are able to serve alcohol outside.
Pasture, a two-year-old restaurant at 416 E. Grace Street, was the first eatery to set up a sidewalk cafe under the new ordinance. It unveiled its patio this month, and co-owner Ry Marchant said the new option has been a hit.
“The restaurant’s been a delight for us, and I think the patio is really going to add to it,” Marchant said during Wednesday’s news conference.
Tony Deyerle, managing partner at the Richmond Restaurant Group’s Europa, said the Shockoe Slip cafe and bar plans to apply for a permit as soon as possible.
“At Europa, we’ve just been chomping at the bit for the city to do something like this,” Deyerle said. “Especially with all the foot traffic we get during lunch, it’s definitely something we want to take advantage of.”
But Deyerle said he hasn’t heard of a coming rush of new outdoor seating options.
“I haven’t heard a lot of buzz about it, and I get the impression not a lot of restaurant owners are aware this is coming up the pipe,” Deyerle said. “But as word spreads, I think that will change. It’s basically free advertising for your restaurant.”
Carlos Silva, owner of Bistro 27 at 27 W. Broad St., submitted his restaurant’s application this week. He said he’s been trying to set up an outdoor seating area for about two years but never got approval from the city.
“The new way is fantastic,” Silva said. “The only downside is that we’ll have to bring all our furniture in and out every night.”
Silva said the restaurant’s patio is set to open May 20 and should seat 12 customers.
Ry Marchant chats with customers enjoying Pasture’s new sidewalk cafe. (Photo by Lena Price)
Richmond is cutting the red tape off of some restaurants’ patio furniture.
A recently passed ordinance that makes it easier for city restaurants to offer outdoor dining was formally unveiled Wednesday by Mayor Dwight Jones.
About eight restaurants have expressed interest in sidewalk cafe permits since the process was put in place in November, said Richmond planning director Mark Olinger.
Click the image above to see the city’s instructions for sidewalk cafe permit applications.
Before the ordinance change, city council had to approve any restaurant’s request for outdoor seating, a process that could take months. Now the Bureau of Permits and Inspections will process the applications, and Olinger said it would take about 10 days to receive approval.
“Essentially it’s easier, cheaper, and there’s less bureaucracy involved,” Olinger said.
It costs $150 to apply for a permit, and restaurants will have to pay an annual $100 maintenance fee. Under the old system, the process could cost up to $1,000, Olinger said.
Restaurants will have to bring their outdoor furniture inside every night and won’t be allowed to install permanent fixtures, such as fences. Restaurants are able to serve alcohol outside.
Pasture, a two-year-old restaurant at 416 E. Grace Street, was the first eatery to set up a sidewalk cafe under the new ordinance. It unveiled its patio this month, and co-owner Ry Marchant said the new option has been a hit.
“The restaurant’s been a delight for us, and I think the patio is really going to add to it,” Marchant said during Wednesday’s news conference.
Tony Deyerle, managing partner at the Richmond Restaurant Group’s Europa, said the Shockoe Slip cafe and bar plans to apply for a permit as soon as possible.
“At Europa, we’ve just been chomping at the bit for the city to do something like this,” Deyerle said. “Especially with all the foot traffic we get during lunch, it’s definitely something we want to take advantage of.”
But Deyerle said he hasn’t heard of a coming rush of new outdoor seating options.
“I haven’t heard a lot of buzz about it, and I get the impression not a lot of restaurant owners are aware this is coming up the pipe,” Deyerle said. “But as word spreads, I think that will change. It’s basically free advertising for your restaurant.”
Carlos Silva, owner of Bistro 27 at 27 W. Broad St., submitted his restaurant’s application this week. He said he’s been trying to set up an outdoor seating area for about two years but never got approval from the city.
“The new way is fantastic,” Silva said. “The only downside is that we’ll have to bring all our furniture in and out every night.”
Silva said the restaurant’s patio is set to open May 20 and should seat 12 customers.
It’s about time. Richmond is always behind the curve.
totally agree JS!
Hats off to Council and staff for identifying a need and fashioning an acceptable solution.
Lets hope that no one abuses te opportunity.
THEQ
Thank you Brian Olinger.
Mark* Olinger. Brian Ohlinger is with VCU.
Yay. Who knew the City could (and would) do something cheaper AND quicker?
You mean Sidewalk Cafe could one day have some sidewalk seating? Get outta here!
So bad article or Pasture already in violation? I love the outdoor seating but the article says “no fences” so what is in the picture. I think Pasture is under a different permit.
The ordinance bans permanent fences; the fence at Pasture is temporary (not attached to the ground, just on a weighted base).
Operative Word: “permanent”…the fencing/barriers look temporary to me.
So “good’ article, bad comprehension….
I’m fairly certain that the temporary fence/containment is also to satisfy Virginia ABC’s ordinance that alcohol must be served within certain approved “enclosed’ area, such as a restaurant’s patio dining space.
Michael: Pasture’s outdoor fence is not permanent. The article should have been clarified all fencing, seating, and tables have to be brought inside nightly.
heck, rent them the sidewalk – outdoor cafes are an unquestionable good thing for the city.
No one ever went to Paris and said “I liked it, except for all the cafes…. “