Eating outside with friends or a canine companion is a popular way to spend a afternoon in many cities. But it’s a bit limited in downtown Durango because of city rules, and many restaurants choose to have an outdoor patio in the back or rooftop seating. Still, downtown businesses that put bistro tables in front of their restaurants say it is good advertising for the restaurant, and people enjoy it.
“I think it’s a great way to showcase what we do in front of anyone who visits downtown,” said Mike Hurst, co-owner of Carver Brewing Co. on Main Avenue. “I think it’s good for downtown, too; it just kind of brings this lively element.”
Carvers already has its tables out. Some businesses are waiting until spring takes more of a hold.
The city of Durango had banned bistro dining on the sidewalks for years because it feared a lawsuit if anyone hurt himself or herself on the street furniture, said Greg Hoch, the city’s community development director. The sidewalks are about 8 feet wide – narrow compared with other cities that have sidewalks 10 feet to 12 feet wide.
“Since the economic downturn, the city sort of looked and said ‘Well, you know, we don’t want to crack down on these people who are trying to make a buck, expand their profits in a low-profit time,’” he said. “So the city started going through a bistro table permit (process), which allows people to put side tables on the sidewalk.”
The tables must be right next to the building and can’t be larger than 24 inches. There are currently eight businesses that have a bistro permit from the city. Restaurants are allowed up to four tables and eight chairs. The city charges the restaurants $50 for first table and additional ones are $25.
There’s a separate permit for backyard or patio areas, tables on private property and rooftop dining.
“It allows some of our customers to have animals that I can’t put on my patio,” said Tad Brown, owner of Fired Up Pizza. “You know if they have a dog, it allows them to have the ability to eat with their dogs in tow.”
Brown said the tables are inviting to passers-by. But the city has a number of conditions that make it tough. He can’t serve alcohol in his bistro seating like Carvers because he doesn’t have railing around the tables. Deputy City Clerk Dana Evans said that serving alcohol in the bistro area requires a change to the business’s liquor license.
“It’s kind of tricky,” Brown said. “Seating someone out there, there’s a number of conditions. Ultimately, it’s an option for folks.”
Karen Barger said Seasons Rotisserie & Grill gets the bistro tables because customers enjoy the experience. But not all customers enjoy eating next to a furry dog. This is the third year the restaurant has purchased tables, which they plan to put out in the next week.
“I suppose that becomes the most dog-friendly table that we have because you don’t have to go through the restaurant,” Barger said. “But if you’re not a dog fan? I’ve had people tell me ‘If I wanted to dine with a dog, then I would go to the pound.’”
Patios and other outdoor seating on private property have to get a separate city permit. Eolus Bar & Dining has a rooftop patio open in the summer months. Other restaurants, such as Old Tymers Cafe and Ken & Sue’s, have back patio areas.
Durango has also looked at turning the downtown area into a pedestrian mall, but the idea has gone nowhere in 30 years, Hoch said.
“Everybody who comes to town says, ‘You should turn your downtown into a pedestrian mall,’” he said. “One, the merchants don’t want it. They like drive-by traffic, and people can park in front of their stores, even if oftentimes they can’t find a parking space in front of their stores.”
The other reason, Hoch said, is that successful pedestrian malls only work if there’s adequate parking and a good traffic circulation system. Durango has neither, he said.
smueller@durangoherald.com
