PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The South Street Headhouse District is evaluating a new open dining program that is creating strategic street closures so restaurants can expand outdoor seating.
The program is intended to help their businesses recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael Harris, executive director of the district, said they are reviewing the results from last weekend, and feedback from neighbors and restaurants has been mainly favorable.
“Where there were any concerns with traffic control, impacts to the neighborhood, public safety issues — you know, there’s always things we can adjust,” he said. “But in general, the feedback was probably 80% positive.”
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The program shuts down the 200 and 700 blocks of South Street to traffic, allowing restaurants to expand table service into the street, from 11 a.m. on Friday until 11 p.m. on Sunday, over four weekends.
“We may extend to maybe the 400 block or the 500 block, depending on how this goes over,” he said, as there are three more weekends to go, and there are other restaurant-heavy blocks on South Street.
“Our assessments were a lot of people came out, the tables were safely distanced and full, and I think it was really good for business. It was really good for the neighborhood,” he added.
Harris said they are in talks with the city about this program and will re-evaluate how it went and whether to extend it beyond the four weeks. The issue of street closures for restaurants is also part of a bigger conversation about how the pandemic has changed economic habits in the city.