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Merrimack Valley
More Lawrence restaurants are taking business outside
Outdoor seating seen as economic boon
Published: June 19, 2009
LAWRENCE — Sitting outdoors and enjoying ice cream is the perfect antidote after a harsh winter. At Carleen's Restaurant at 209 S. Broadway, there's a seat waiting for you. It's even placed under an umbrella to protect you from the sun while you enjoy your favorite treat.
Across the city, upscale restaurants to diners to coffee shops have or are trying to offer customers outdoor seating. This, according to Lawrence officials, is great economic news.
"It's the way to go when the weather is nice. In New England, we are cooped up for a number of months. It's great to be able to take advantage of being outside," said Thomas Schiavone, the city's acting chief economic development director.
"And it makes the business more visible to the public because people are sitting outside, having a coffee and pastry or eating lunch," he said.
Businesses that have seats outside include Marabu at 22 Union St., which has patio tables and chairs set up in a fenced-in area on the property.
Terra Luna Cafe at 225 Essex St. also has a roped off alfresco section that sits on the bricks at Appleton Way.
Across the street, Heav'nly Donuts, which sells coffee, tea, doughnuts, pastries, sandwiches and more, recently asked city councilors for permission to put tables and chairs on the sidewalk out front. The council's Ordinance Committee is reviewing the request.
In many cases, the business owner applies for permission from the City Council "to partially obstruct" the sidewalk with outdoor dining furniture. If, and when, the council signs off, other approvals may be needed from the city's licensing board and the food inspector.
But as long as there's room for pedestrians, people using wheelchairs, and strollers to get around the tables and chairs, the requests are generally granted, said Myles Burke, city inspectional services director.
"You can't take away too much of the walkway," Burke said. "That's there for safety."
But if alcohol is sold at the restaurant, other issues come into play and can hamper the request.
"If you sell liquor, the law requires that you not be able to enter directly from the outside entrance," said Patrick Blanchette, City Council president and Ordinance Committee member. "You need to enter the establishment and then go into the outside section," he said.
He said that even if the council is 100 percent supportive of the outdoor plan, the restaurant's approval can "hit unnecessary roadblocks along the way."
In past instances, restaurant owners became frustrated and withdrew their plans.
"Other establishments go through the ringer and by the time approval is ready, the summer months are over," Blanchette said. "The bottom line is that the city should streamline this process and allow more businesses to offer outdoor seating."
Doing so could create a business atmosphere in downtown Lawrence that he "dreams about," Blanchette said.
John Farrington, co-owner of Carleen's, says it's a great place to sit while you're enjoying a slush or an ice-cream cone. And it's also an effective advertising strategy.
"It helps attract attention," he said. "It's like a giant banner that lets everyone know you are here."
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