Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Parklets, street closures and sidewalk service all to be featured
A street rendering of the parklet to be installed in front of T Mac's restaurant on Colville Street in downtown Walla Walla.
A row of bright orange chairs and tables offer cafe seating on Spokane Street in front of Yamas Restaurant.
Individual businesses are also making plans to adjust to the Safe Start guidelines. Rachel Nagler who owns the Maple Counter on Alder Street with her husband Cory, said they removed their waffle truck, formerly located to the east of the restaurant to make way for more outdoor seating, and she has also been able to include more al fresco dining on their back patio area. Since moving to Phase 2, which dictates a 50 percent occupancy rate, she has spaced her tables six feet apart and has seen her business increase each week. "Since re-opening we're really pleased with how many people have come back out to eat. The customers do seem to be coming back, we had a lot of people from Seattle and the Tri-Cities this weekend (June 5-7) since their counties are still closed. Last weekend we were running a wait list," said Nagler. "We're only down about 20% from where we were last summer, and we were able to bring back most of our staff which we were happy to do," she continued. Nagler said she has been keeping up with the activities of the Downtown Foundation and has appreciated all the updates from the City as well as its donation of masks and hand sanitizer. Nagler also is in the process of opening up a new business, an ice cream shop to feature homemade ice cream, located next door to Graze Sandwich Shop on Colville. Although construction had to be paused in March for six weeks, they are once again underway with dry wall, paint and plumbing being added. She plans to add more tables in the shared patio space and is confident that the space can accommodate both businesses due to alternating peak times for each. Look for the ice cream shop to open in August.
The Maple Counter Cafe on Alder, in downtown Walla Walla, has a number of outdoor tables, complete with awnings.
WALLA WALLA-Plans are underway to boost business income in Walla Walla's downtown corridor through active collaboration between the City, local agencies and business owners.
The proposals all encourage utilizing outdoor spaces which many believe is a safer alternative to dining indoors, recognizing data that shows the coronavirus is transmittable through prolonged contact in enclosed spaces.
The Walla Walla City Council has approved a number of measures to increase outdoor seating, allowing restaurant owners to place tables and chairs on the sidewalks up to the curb as long as there is a three-foot pathway to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
Businesses will need to apply to the city for a free permit to expand their outdoor seating. Restaurants will be allowed to serve alcohol at these curbside tables, providing there is orange tape around the seating area. Businesses must also apply for a special permit from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board in order to offer this alcohol service.
The City of Walla Walla was allocated about $1.02 million through the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act and is expected to use approximately $250,000 for the outdoor dining project. Some of the funds were used to purchase bright orange tables and chairs which are available to any business in the downtown area, with some supplies being offered outside of the downtown area, as well.
Conversations between local business owners, the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation and the City resulted in the adoption of four parklets -- floating platforms, built adjacent to four downtown restaurants, that feature an enclosure, awnings, planters and seating to expand the restaurants' space.
The parklets are to be constructed in front of T Mac's at 80 N. Colville St, The Public House 124 at 124 E. Main St., The Red Monkey at 25 W. Alder St., and Brasserie Four at 4 E. Main St. The parklets will take up sidewalk space as well as a few parking spaces. The city will partner with the businesses to cover the costs for the parklets' construction and maintenance.
The proposal for the parklet in front of T Mac's has an estimate of $16,073, with the business responsible for providing tables, chairs, umbrellas, pots, planting, maintenance and repairs.
Kathryn Witherington, Executive Director of the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation expects the parklets to be in place by July 1. Businesses will be able to keep the parklets through next year when the Council will assess the future of the outdoor expansions.
"I think they will significantly change the streetscape of Walla Walla," said Witherington.
The restaurants selected to pilot the parklets were based on a range of criteria, including length of tenure in the downtown area. The addition of more parklets is a possibility, with assistance from the Downtown Foundation, as long as there is some sort of business match of either labor or funding.
Semi-permanents street closures are also being planned for this summer including one on South First Street between Main and Alder streets. The area will feature the chairs and tables purchased by the City, overhead lighting, and attractive planters to close the area to car traffic.
The City is also planning to close East Main Street, between Second Ave and Park Street, one evening per weekend to promote shopping, events, and outdoor dining . The plan is expected to begin on Saturday, July 11 at 6 p.m. and continue through Labor Day.
Reader Comments(0)