A proposal aimed at increasing outdoor business on State Street is set to pass the Madison Common Council tonight.
The new ordinance would allow non-street level restaurants sidewalk seating on State Street or the Capitol Mall. According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, it is currently illegal for non-street level restaurants and stores to operate on the sidewalk.
First-floor businesses will still have priority for sidewalk operations, but if they decide not to operate outdoors or fail to file the proper paperwork in time, second-floor and basement businesses can take their spots on the sidewalk, Verveer said.
He added that stores would also be able to sell merchandise on the street, which they cannot do under current law.
Mark Paradise, manager of The Sunroom Caf??, 638 State St., noted his interest in the new law.
'When it is very, very nice out in, let's say, the early evening, we will see we won't be that busy,' Paradise said. 'But we will see that the caf??s outside are.'
Most restaurants are not overly concerned with the possibility of more sidewalk competitors. Himal Chuli, 318 State St., already has sidewalk service in warm months but will not suffer as a result of the ordinance, according to manager Jamuna Shrespha.
'In our block, everybody has outdoor seating,' Shrespha said.
Some restaurants are already sharing space. Kabul and Buraka, located in the same building, 541 State St., each have outdoors seating. Kabul's space is directly in front of their store, while Buraka, located in the basement, has worked out a deal with Kabul for caf?? space.
'I'm not worried about [the ordinance]?? it just gives the customer more choices. ?? I think competition is good,' explained Hamed Zafari, Kabul's manager.
While the new regulations could allow restaurants to develop sidewalk caf??s, non-street level restaurants face a variety of problems street-level restaurants do not.
'Being on the second floor, what do you do with your tables? How do you deal with that? We, unfortunately, have a real lack of space,' Paradise said. 'Running food up and down stairs is another issue too.'
The Common Council will vote on the final version of the ordinance tonight. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he expects the ordinance to pass without serious opposition.
'It's not the most radical law in the world,' Verveer said.
