Edison Mayor Extends Outdoor Dining Till End Of Year

EDISON, NJ — Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey on Wednesday signed an executive order, extending outdoor dining for township restaurants.

The original executive order allowing outdoor dining was set to expire on Oct. 31. The mayor’s new order extends through Dec. 31.

The mayor also waived any application or approval fee.

According to the new executive order, restaurants can now eliminate up to 20 percent of their existing parking to use as outdoor dining space. Other outdoor spaces can also be converted to dining areas, as long as patrons adhere to social distancing rules and other safety protocols.

Additionally, the restaurants also need to meet zoning, health, fire and police approvals, before setting up additional dining space.

In late August, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that restaurants across the state can reopen indoor dining with 25 percent capacity, beginning Sep 4.

But many restaurants across the state have been struggling to stay afloat since 25 percent capacity is not enough to regain pre-pandemic business.

Read More Here: Princeton Restaurants Reopen Amid Pandemic Uncertainty

Restaurants rely on outdoor dining to fund their business, but with the weather fast changing things could get tricky. Many restaurants also coupled outdoor dining with curbside pickup and delivery to stay afloat.

Lankey’s new executive order hopes to bring some respite to the town’s hospitality industry that has been struggling since the pandemic shutdown.

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