Ducey approves expanded outdoor dining for restaurants
In a news conference addressing Arizona’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies, Gov. Doug Ducey announced a new executive order allowing restaurants to expand outdoor seating, an activity health experts have repeatedly said poses less risk of coronavirus transmission than eating indoors.
The order “cuts red tape,” Ducey said, for restaurants to cross sidewalks and other public areas to expand outdoor dining areas into parking lots and surrounding space.
“In Arizona we have the luxury of a beautiful winter that lends itself well to grabbing a table outdoors in so many parts of our state,” Ducey said. “But transforming operations for our restaurants isn’t easy and it certainly isn’t cheap, especially during a pandemic.”
The governor also announced $1 million in funding in partnership with the Arizona Restaurant Association, which will help offset costs for buying barriers, heaters and outdoor furniture, Ducey said.
Chef Charleen Badman, co-owner of FnB restaurant in Scottsdale, said she was pleased to hear Ducey’s announcement. She also wished it had come two months sooner when the weather started getting cool enough to comfortably dine outside.
Restaurants that closed recently might have been able to stay open longer, she said.
“This is encouraging restaurants to do the right thing, to expand patios and not stuff as many people inside and letting people get sick,” Badman said. FnB added al fresco dining two months ago because the restaurant would have shuttered otherwise, she said.
Restaurants have been one of the hardest hit industries during the pandemic; many have closed permanently. At the news conference, Steve Chucri, Maricopa County Supervisor and CEO of the ARA, thanked the governor for his help throughout the pandemic and with the new funding measures.
How Ducey’s order will help restaurants expand outdoor seating
In the news conference, Ducey explained the funding is designed to “help small, Arizona-owned and operated businesses.”
A news release from the governor’s office explains the requirements for businesses to qualify for funding. Restaurants and bars serving food that have fewer than 50 employees and are Arizona owned and operated may apply.
In the application process, the business must demonstrate compliance with current COVID-19 mitigation measures; have approval from the appropriate city, county or town; and plan to extend the outdoor seating for a minimum of three months.
Once approved, a restaurant may receive up to $10,000 to convert outdoor space into dining areas. The funding launches the “Safest Outside Restaurant Assistance Program,” according to a news release from the Governor’s Office, and the money can go toward items such as “outdoor furniture, barriers, patio heaters, or parklets.”
The funding will be released on a first come, first served basis and the application for funding will open on Monday, Dec. 7. The application will be available online.
If each restaurant that applies for aid receives the maximum $10,000, the funding will be able to help 100 restaurants. Badman said she spent $11,000 on outdoor dining expenses, which include installing turf and renting 17 heaters.
Mahfam Moeeni-Alarcon, co-owner of Mingle & Graze in Chandler, reopened for dining two weeks ago. She’s thankful the city has been supportive and allowed them to expand to the parking lot.
“We’re in a situation where we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t,” Moeeni-Alarcon said. “We’re going to lose customers when it’s not safe dining in, but also it was a really expensive build-out for us.”
Moeeni-Alarcon said Mingle & Graze had a deck constructed using its own funds, which added 10 more tables. Without the deck, the restaurant can only safely fit three tables inside and two on the mini-patio, she said.
“It’s an awesome opportunity, but like I said, it’s out of the restaurant’s pocket, so that’s money we need to carry us through the pandemic. It’s kinda of a risk because we don’t know if customers are going to come out again. It gives us the opportunity to seat more people, but are more people comfortable with dining out?”