In response to health mandates requiring patrons of restaurants, cafés and other food establishments to either purchase take-out or dine outdoors, 146 businesses within the Center City District (CCD) boundaries have placed tables with more than 3,600 outside seats. After securing special approvals expedited by the City of Philadelphia, 35 of those businesses have deployed sociall distanced tables and chairs in the curb lane (“streeteries”) as well as on the sidewalk. Businesses on several blocks within the District are also planning for full-street closures on weekends.

Outdoor dining has been an indicator of Center City’s vibrancy since sidewalk cafés were first authorized in 1995. As the current number of restaurants providing take out or serving outdoors continues to expand, Center City is slowly and cautiously beginning to recover.

To learn more, download Restaurant Recovery: Safe Outdoor Dining.