West Village Adds New 'Open Street' For Local Restaurants

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A new section of the West Village will get traffic-free outdoor dining as part of the city's plan to help restaurants serve additional customers while restrictions remain in place on indoor dining.

The new West Village Open Street will exist on Waverly Place and stretch from Christopher Street to West 10th Street.

An Open Street already exists nearby on Christopher Street from Waverly Place to 7th Avenue South, but the new section is part of four recently announced extensions of the program by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The Open Street on Waverly Place was added in partnership with Jeffrey's Grocery, an American restaurant located on the newly closed-off block at 172 Waverly Place. The Lower Manhattan eatery recently added a message on its website advertising available outdoor seating for the first time.

"Open Streets and Outdoor Dining have been two bright spots in these dark times, and I'm proud to keep expanding both these initiatives in my district and throughout the five boroughs," said Council Speaker and West Village representative Corey Johnson. "We must continue working to give New Yorkers more open space and to support our restaurants and small businesses as best we can during and after this pandemic."

Open Streets operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and allow no vehicle traffic through the area. Restaurants can set up extended outdoor dining in the streets and serve more customers throughout the day.