TLV Is Getting Creative With Outdoor Dining

MARIETTA, OH — Anne Labes is a local attorney who represents the LLC that owns 284 and 286 Front Street, that’s where the Mediterranean restaurant TLV is located. Ari Gold owns that restaurant. They both showed up to the last Marietta City Council meeting to see about a new type of outdoor dining, well, new to this area. They want to set up tables in the parking space in front of the restaurant.

Live in Marietta? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow Marietta Patch on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free Patch mobile app on Android or iPhone

Labes said the idea is not new. “It’s been utilized in several communities, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Houston.” Gold is used to New York City, where restaurants don’t have dedicated outdoor seating. So what do they do? They use the parking space out front. “You can frame it up with plants or cones, and set up seating over there.”

Labes said the restaurant is doing what they can. “With Covid and everything that’s happened they’ve done their best to accommodate the public.” They’ve set up their booths almost as little tents to make people feel comfortable like they’re eating in their own bubble.
Even though the pandemic is winding down, the virus isn’t gone. Studies show that people are much safer outdoors. Currently, TLV has a couple of small outdoor tables, but Gold wants more outdoor seating.

So he decided to ask the Marietta City Council about it. He said he’d even be willing to pay. “Right now you can go to the mayor’s office, for five dollars you can get a permit to park there for the whole day.” Since there is no need for a permit on the weekend he wants to see if he can pay $25 a week for the parking space in front of TLV. “That’s a couple of dollars the city can make every month to let me have outdoor seating.”

Gold and his attorney are planning on going through the proper channels to make this happen. But Labes isn’t really sure what the problem would be. “I’m not sure how it could hurt anyone.”

She said that there are already business owners on Front Street who feel entitled to the space in front of their stores so much that they will block it off and that she’s been assured that this is legal. “I don’t see how this would be contrary to what’s going on on Front Street right now.”

The restaurant has been growing and evolving since the very beginning. They opened up their doors just 4 days before the state shut them down last spring. The restaurant pivoted to handle more to-go and delivery orders, they even opened a bakery but it’s been a rough go.

Gold wants to stay ahead of the curve. He said this will allow TLV to keep growing and adjusting, not just to coronavirus, but also whatever comes after it. “When the virus goes away, life has changed. That is a fact. There is nothing you can do about that. So we need to adjust to that. And having outdoor seating during summertime will help the business.”

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Marietta Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of our latest sponsors? Email any and all inquiries to me at christopher.schmitt@patch.com