As New York City’s small businesses transitioned to Phase 3 of the city’s reopening plan earlier this month, restaurants and diners took to the streets and sidewalks for open dining. From now through October, restaurants can offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk and curb lane to customers. With six outdoor dining destinations to choose from in the BID, there are plenty of opportunities to sit back and relax on Jerome Avenue and East Gun Hill Road.

 

Jennifer Tausig is Executive Director of the Jerome Gun Hill BID. “Open dining has provided a much-needed lifeline for our small, locally owned restaurants. Delivery was not enough to pay the bills, and we are grateful to the City for listening to our requests to provide quick, flexible guidelines to restaurants so they can serve on the sidewalk and in the curb lane,” she added. “It is a good first step in helping our restaurants reopen so they can continue to serve the neighborhood.”

 

Meanwhile, restaurant owners have taken the opportunity to innovate, revitalizing their businesses as well as the streetscape with planters, colorful umbrellas, string lights, and outdoor decorations. Yasmin Familia, owner of Caribe Restaurant, has been hard at work making her outdoor dining area look and feel like a tropical escape. Customers can enjoy drink specials and restaurant specialties like empanadas and mofongo while relaxing in the shade. Whether you are out to dinner with your family, or grabbing a quick lunch on your break, business owners are going above and beyond to make customers, as well as employees, feel relaxed, cared for, and safe.

 

Lizeth Echevaria, manager of Queen of Tacos, told us that outdoor dining is helping both her employees as well as restaurant sales. “Waitresses are receiving tips and customers are enjoying the outdoor seating experience,” she said. “We are committed to ensuring our patrons come have a good meal and some normality, of course taking precautions and ensuring our customer’s safety. We want to thank all our patrons for their continued support.”

 

A popular lunch spot for hospital employees, Marconi’s Pizza was one of the first businesses in the BID to offer outdoor seating. Owner, Alfan Krasniqi, said it has helped improve business and customers like it. While not as busy as before, Krasniqi welcomes the opportunity to serve customers outside. On a sunny day you will find the outdoor tables full of local workers enjoying a slice of pizza on their break, alongside neighborhood families sharing a pie.

 

You can also enjoy outdoor dining at Club Valle (352 East Gun Hill Road), Oasis Restaurant and Bar (3441 Jerome Avenue), and D’Amigos Restaurant and Bar (12 East Gun Hill Road). Enter to win a Jerome Gun Hill BID swag bag by sending us a photo of you enjoying an outdoor meal in the BID! Send us your entries by August 20^th to jeromegunhillbid@gmail.com.

 

Ariana Cipriani is Program Manager at the Jerome Gun Hill BID. For more information about the BID please follow @jeromegunhillbid on Instagram or head to our website, www.jeromegunhillbid.org.