Detroit Extends Outdoor Dining Program To Help Businesses

DETROIT, MI — The city of Detroit has announced an extension of its outdoor dining program to support restaurants impacted by the new coronavirus indoor dining restrictions.

The new dining program, Open Detroit, was announced by the city Monday. The pilot program initially launched in June 2020 to help support the safe reopening of restaurants offering sit-down dining. City officials said that since response to the program has been so favorable among restaurant owners and patrons, coupled with the new restrictions on indoor dining, the city decided to extend the program through the winter.

The winter edition of Open Detroit will kick off Dec. 1 and go through April 1.

“Our local restaurants continue to face challenges as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions on sit-down dining capacity," DPW Director Ron Brundidge said. "With these restrictions continuing into the cold weather months, the extension of the Open Detroit program will give businesses an opportunity to service patrons in a safe manner. Our hope is that restaurants take advantage of this opportunity, and most importantly that residents safely support these businesses."

The program allows for sidewalks, on-streets parking spaces and private parking lots to be temporarily converted for uses such as seating, expanded outdoor dining areas and retail space.

The city has also designated a select number of Café & Retail Zones, where the city will close selected portions of an entire street. These zones provide the maximum space to serve businesses in a concentrated area, and will be installed 24 hours per day/7 days per week, for the duration of the program. Social distancing requirements as well as ADA clearances must be followed.

Enclosed outdoor seating is permissible as long as tents only have one side of the tent down. “Igloo” style seating is allowed but must only sit one household at a time.

Permits for the summer outdoor dining program are set to expire on Nov. 30. All restaurants looking to apply for the winter program must apply online, including current summer permit holders.