Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, San Jose closed off many downtown streets to car traffic in order to allow diners more space to eat outside. The city on Tuesday will decide whether to make the change permanent.
The city council is set to discuss how to make the street closures at San Pedro Square, in place since May, 2020, permanent, as well as whether or not to introduce weekly closures to a stretch of Post Street.
Even for many businesses that don't sell food, the increased foot traffic has meant more customers.
"We do benefit when diners come because that’s what attracts them and then a lot of time they’ll just be walking by and then they’ll find us," Sarah Bellinger, a manager of a retail shop that lies along a now wakable portion of San Pedro Street, told KCBS Radio.
"When dinner was popping, people would see us because they're on their way to get food so it definitely gets us more exposure," she said.
The plan faces pushback from some business owners who argued they benefit more from car traffic.
Supporters are hopeful a compromise solution can be reached.
"I have every reason to believe that an agreement can be reached that works for everyone from a safety standpoint, a hospitality standpoint, a vitality standpoint," Nate LeBlanc, Business Development Manager at the San Jose Downtown Association, which supports the closures, told KCBS Radio.
"We're supportive of trying to extend it as much as possible and to do it right as well," he added.
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