City Issues Clarification on Open Storefronts Program

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Stores on Bainbridge Avenue could soon avail of the new Open Storefronts program. However, it begs the question of how the space will be shared with street vendors.
Photo by Síle Moloney

As reported by Norwood News, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Emergency Executive Order 157, which created the Open Storefronts program on October 28, 2020. Open Storefronts is a free program that allows existing ground-floor storefront businesses to use a portion of the sidewalk and roadways to display merchandise, sell goods, and more from October 30 to December 31, 2020.

On Nov. 12, the City issued some further guidance to clarify the situation regarding the program for existing Stoop Line Stand licensees. Stoop Line Stand licensee businesses can continue to operate under existing regulations, without participating in the Open Storefronts program. However, there are added benefits for those businesses which self-certify and join the Open Storefronts program.

With the Open Storefronts program, those businesses will be able to:

use five (5) feet in front of a store, even if the stoop line stand only extends four (4) feet, as long as there is an eight-foot (8’) clear path for pedestrians
display and sell products outside, other than the ones allowed with a Stoop Line Stand license; and
take payments outside.

Rendering of proposed outdoor storefront program.
Image courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation.

For businesses which participate in Open Storefronts, there are no changes to the height restrictions of the program and businesses can continue to display goods up to seven feet in height. Participating businesses are not required to bring in the stoop line stand(s) at the close of business.

Businesses are not required to participate in Open Storefronts, but they can only take advantage of these benefits, if they participate in the program. For more details, and to sign up for Open Storefronts, businesses should visit the Department of Transportation at nyc.gov/OpenStorefronts.

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