New Milford extends outdoor dining through summer
NEW MILFORD — Outdoor dining will continue to operate in New Milford for its second summer, allowing residents who don’t feel comfortable dining indoors to enjoy their favorite restaurants, and helping local businesses recover from the pandemic.
Mayor Pete Bass announced the continuance of the expanded option during a town council meeting Monday.
“In speaking with our restaurateurs, especially last year, it did save some businesses,” Bass said in an interview. “That was a big plus, and this year, we want to continue that.”
The town will be allowing outdoor dining on Church Street, Bank Street, Railroad Street, as well as at other restaurants in the area. Last year, the town had an “extensive” list of other restaurants participating, according to Bass. The department of pub
lic works teams have already started putting up jersey barriers around some of the restaurants in the downtown area.
In addition to the continuance of outdoor dining, Bass announced that Bank Street will also be closed to cars on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. onward starting at the beginning of May. The move will allow residents to walk around more freely during summer evenings, and Bass hopes to continue the closures at least until the fall.
Last May, Bass signed an executive order allowing restaurants to operate outdoors in order to speed the town’s economic recovery and aid struggling businesses. And while this announcement merely extends a mandate that is already in place, it comes as welcome news to restaurant owners.
Since March 19, restaurants in the state have been allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity, provided they abide by the six-foot social distancing and mask mandates. The caveat means some restaurants have still been unable to operate at fullcapacity.
Bass said he hopes this move will help restaurants take on more customers this summer.
“Restaurants were very appreciative last year for the availability of additional opportunities for their customers to eat outside if some are feeling hesitant,” Bass said during the town council meeting. “This will be another opportunity for our restaurants.”
And as this year’s harsh New England winter recedes and more vaccinated people are eager to eat out again, restaurants are excited to set up outside again.
On Bank Street, the weekend street closure will help some restaurants replace tables lost to social distancing.
Usually at Zaragoza, a modern tapas restaurant, their outdoor patio is able to hold 11 tables. Right now, they can only fit five due to the intimate size of their space and the need to sit parties six feet apart.
“It really works out for us,” said owner Artie Praino of the closure of Bank Street and more seating options.
The outdoor atmosphere was nice last year, Praino said, with live music from jazz bands that would play on the closed street. He also noted that most people seem to still be more comfortable sitting outside than indoors.
“I’m sure they’ll be excited,” he said.
Just down the street, Antonio Caldareri, owner and head chef at Lucia Ristorante, has been offering outdoor seating since last month and said he’s glad that they’re able to continue with the option. The restaurant notes on its website that they have a small bistro patio for outdoor seating but their indoor dining is limited, and reservations are encouraged.
The positive response to outdoor dining, both from owners and residents, has Bass considering some form of permanent outdoor dining options for the town, so long as it complies with local zoning laws.
The mayor is in favor of “any option that we can give our restaurateurs to thrive and prosper, especially during COVID. They took such a tremendous hit.”
So if the town can find a solution that abides by zoning laws, outdoor dining may be here to stay.
“I’m assuming in some form or other we will see permanent outdoor dining,” Bass said.