Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

2 hours ago

Clovis Unified Mourns Passing of Former Superintendent Terry Bradley

9 hours ago

Clovis At-Risk Missing Person Found Dead in Fresno Canal

9 hours ago

DOJ Asks California Sheriffs for Names of Inmates Who Aren’t Citizens

10 hours ago

Israel Agrees to Allow Syrian Troops Limited Access to Sweida

11 hours ago

Border Patrol Agents Raid a Home Depot in Northern California

11 hours ago

Man Admits to Killing Missing Bass Lake Resident, Madera County Authorities Say

1 day ago

Trump Diagnosed With Vein Condition Causing Leg Swelling, White House Says

1 day ago

US Seeks One-Day Sentence for Police Officer Convicted in Breonna Taylor Case

1 day ago

Manhattan Prosecutor Who Handled Epstein Cases Is Fired

1 day ago
Table for Two on Sidewalk, Patio or Parking Lot? Fresno Explores Its Options.
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
May 15, 2020

Share

Fresno is joining other cities in looking at using sidewalks, patios, and parking lots to help restaurants get back to serving food on tables again.

Mayor Lee Brand is open to the idea and discussed the opportunity and challenges with his Recovery Advisory Committee on Thursday.

The California Restaurant Association hosted a call with members Friday morning to discuss what the future of outdoor dining could look like.

Fresno restaurant owners tell GV Wire they’re hopeful the State Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control would allow their liquor licenses to expand outside their walls and covered patios.

Sal’s Mexican Restaurants Owner

Lorraine Salazar co-owns Sal’s at Fresno Street and Alluvial Avenue, and she represents the restaurant community on Brand’s recovery committee. She is cautiously optimistic the idea of outdoor seating could help many in her industry.

“The mayor is proposing and fully endorses that we look at the ability to open up parking lots, to have more tables,” Salazar said. “Here in town, let’s just say River Park, for example. I believe the landlord is willing and supports the ability of the restaurants to expand their seating and they would provide seating for those restaurants to expand to increase their revenues.”

The mayor is proposing and fully endorses that we look at the ability to open up parking lots, to have more tables.”Lorraine Salazar, Sal’s co-owner

Salazar says landlords must consider the possibility of rent abatement since restaurants won’t be able to use all of their indoor space. She says she’s blessed that her landlord, Rob Wills, is willing to work with her and other restaurant tenants.

The mayor’s group meets again next week to continue the discussion. Salazar said that her anxiety isn’t caused by local politicians.

“The frustration now really has to be directed at the state, and these unrealistic metrics that the counties are being asked to meet,” she said.

Vino Grille & Spirits Owner

Chuck Van Fleet, owner of Vino Grille & Spirits and president of the Fresno chapter of the California Restaurant Association thinks the idea of outdoor dining may sound good on the surface, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. He’s hopeful for any extra revenue because he’s had to lay off 50% of his staff.

“They’re going to explore it and try to help the restaurants as much as possible. They’d rather have outdoor dining than inside dining because it’s just, it’s nicer out there and you don’t have to worry about ventilation,” said Van Fleet.

Van Fleet says it’s really up to the State Alcohol Beverage Control whether it’s allowed, and whether the city will agree. “It’s still going to come down to police. If it’ll fit a condition and if we’re allowed to serve outside of the footprint that we already have in place. So, it’s, it’s really a touchy situation right now.”

He also says it may not pencil out financially to put tables in parking spots.

“Literally, if I can open my parking lot, and my patio, I’m going to seat 60 people where I normally seat over 200,” said Van Fleet. “Realistically, it’s going to be 110 degrees here in a few weeks and no one’s going to want to stay outside anyway.”

“Literally, if I can open my parking lot, and my patio, I’m going to seat 60 people where I normally seat over 200.”Chuck Van Fleet, Vino Grille & Spirits owner

He added that the outside scenario is full of costs.

“You’ve got to figure out how much revenue are we going to generate from the tables and the people that are out there, versus what it’s gonna cost us to rent a tent,” Van Fleet said. “What it’s gonna cost us to rent portable air conditioning units that we hook up to our hose and then plug in.”

Bay Area Cities

Several Bay Area cities are exploring options to increase seating capacity outside.

According to ABC7, Mountain View Mayor Abe-Koga said the city is actively exploring outdoor options, expecting its city council will hear those plans sometime in June. The move could keep Castro Street clear of vehicle traffic.

In Menlo Park, the city’s plans would include closing Santa Cruz Avenue through downtown. The plan was introduced to its city council on Tuesday, and is scheduled to be heard again May 26.

In Berkeley, Mayor Jesse Arreguin and Vice Mayor Sophie Hahn have a plan they hope to launch its plan by summer.

“Our foodservice sector is also a really critical part of our tax base, and so this proposal … would ask for city staff to develop a plan to close certain city streets, as well as plazas, looking at our parks as locations to have open air dining,” Mayor Arreguin told ABC7.

San Jose’s plan would allow restaurants, gyms, and other retailers to do business outdoors. They’d use private parking lots, plazas, streets, sidewalks and other outdoor areas, if allowed.

OpenTable CEO: 25% of Restaurants Won’t Survive

Steve Hafner, CEO of OpenTable, predicts 25% of restaurants won’t survive the pandemic.

Watch his interview with CNN here:

The California Restaurant Association shared a tweet Friday reporting 5.5 million jobs lost in the industry just for the month of April.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

DON'T MISS

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

DON'T MISS

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

DON'T MISS

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

DON'T MISS

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

DON'T MISS

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

DON'T MISS

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

UP NEXT

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

UP NEXT

DOJ Wants California Jail Data on Noncitizen Inmates. Fresno Sheriff Reviews Request.

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Three in Drug Raid, Recover Firearms and Narcotics

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Lavisha Denise Beard

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Mourns Passing of Former Superintendent Terry Bradley

UP NEXT

Clovis At-Risk Missing Person Found Dead in Fresno Canal

UP NEXT

Handsome Lugosi’s Winning ‘Purrsonality’ Will Win You Over

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

2 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

3 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

4 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

5 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

6 hours ago

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

6 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

6 hours ago

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

6 hours ago

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

7 hours ago

DOJ Wants California Jail Data on Noncitizen Inmates. Fresno Sheriff Reviews Request.

7 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were placed on leave following a viral “kiss cam” moment at a Coldplay conc...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

2 hours ago

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks during the White House Faith Office Luncheon at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
2 hours ago

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

A Fresno man has been arrested on felony charges after allegedly breaking into a home, groping a sleeping woman, and fleeing with stolen items. (Fresno County SO)
2 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

3 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

A juvenile girl was rescued early Thursday, July 17, 2025, after becoming trapped inside a chimney at a Fresno home and was hospitalized with minor injuries. (Fresno FD)
4 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (not pictured), at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Umit Bektas)
5 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

Men work at a makeshift oil refinery site in Marchmarin town, southern countryside of Idlib, Syria December 16, 2015. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend