The Downtown Alive initiative kicked off last night in Wilmington as sections of downtown were closed to traffic to allow restaurants and stores to expand on to sidewalks and streets.
Customers are now eating on Front Street – literally.
“We'll be expanding our outside dining seating area by four additional tables.”
Ellie Craig is with Front Street Brewery on Front Street.
“So that's going to allow us to bring in an additional server and an additional staff member in each shift that we're open for outside dining.”
Other restaurant owners agree: the move helps customers, and gets restaurant workers back on the job. Again Ellie Craig.
“It will really help a lot of us out. People like Beer Barrio up the street that are just doing outdoor seating right now, for them to be able to expand this out on the street, will truly be monumental in terms of the revenue that there'll be able to bring in.”
The program will be in effect Thursdays and Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Some streets are closed to vehicles.The on-street dining will continue every weekend through Labor Day.
Vince Winkel, WHQR News.