Downtown dining platforms give hope to restaurateurs
Will the coronavirus vaccines bring some springtime optimism to small-business districts that have been barely hanging on?
It’s probably too early to say. But the installation of six more outdoor dining platforms in downtown San Pedro could be a sign of growing, albeit cautious, hope in the seaside town — and could provide the area with a needed mood boost.
Sirens Java and Tea, Rafaello’s, Michael’s Tuscany Room, KoRyu Ramen, Baramee Thai and Nuda Juice each will have an outdoor platform before the weekend ends.
The new platforms, some of which already are set up, will bring the total downtown to 16, perhaps the silver lining in what has been a long, hard year for restaurants’ survival.
The downtown area, under the leadership of the San Pedro Business Improvement District, had been working on an outdoor dining plan for several years when the coronavirus pandemic hit — which, inad
vertently, provided a way to expedite the program and make it cheaper for business owners. That’s because Los Angeles and the business district provided forgivable loans and grants to cashstrapped businesses so they could install the platforms.
With only outdoor dining allowed in Los Angeles County, the added platforms should provide some help to restaurateurs, downtown officials have said.
“What we’ve heard from the downtown San Pedro folks is that the platforms
have been extra helpful,” said Tim McOsker, president of the business district board of directors. Restaurant owners “would obviously prefer to be at full indoor dining but in this environment, it’s a way to keep the employees.”
Yolanda Regalado, owner of Sirens, said Friday that the new parklet in front of her cafe was being decorated and also soon would offer lighting for what she tentatively plans will be longer and later hours in the months to come.
“Outside dining is great for right now,” Regalado said. “The platform looks great and people are loving it. (Before), they’d come and
get their coffee and leave.”
The only other option there was to sit at the four tables on the shop’s front sidewalk.
“We’ve already started getting a lot of response,” Regalado said. “We get some cyclists who ride from Manhattan Beach around the (Palos Verdes) Peninsula and down Seventh Street who stop in.”
Beyond that, she said, the community and customers have helped get her shop through the hard time.
“It’s been a struggle, but our community has been awesome and I’ve gotten so much support from our regulars who will come in no matter what,” Regalado
said. “During Christmas, they showed so much love. And we’ve had so much help from the Chamber (of Commerce) navigating through things.”
Looking ahead, McOsker said the downtown area is cautiously planning for events like Día de los Muertos and L.A. Fleet Week — with officials understanding they don’t have any idea what the rest of 2021 will look like.
“Every time we meet and talk about events and what those events will look like in the future,” he said, “we need to be ready for those to be hybrid type events, with some kind of street activity but not the dense gatherings
like in the past.
“We have to see how it goes and how completely we get to immunity,” McOsker added. “I think it’s possible we’ll have events with (smaller) crowds using safety protocols.”
The business improvement district, he said, is using this year to tackle projects like rebranding and a new advertising effort for the downtown area.
A new trolley already has been bought that will help move visitors around once things begin to open up more.
Regalado said she already is seeing signs of renewal.
“If you drive on Sixth and Seventh streets on weekends,
you’ll see people out there walking their dogs,” she said. “Things are feeling a little bit more normal.”
Recently, Regalado said, an 82-year-old woman who lives nearby came in for some coffee — her first time venturing outside her home in 11 months.
“She got her walker and made her way to Sirens,” Regalado said. “Nobody was here, so I had her sit inside and somebody brought her a cup of coffee and some pastries.
“She just started crying because she didn’t know what to expect. She was just afraid,” Regalado added. “I said, ‘Things are going to get better.’ ”