Applications for outdoor patios double

Double the number of St. John’s businesses have applied for outdoor seating areas

An increasing number of outdoor eateries in St. John’s are open for business in more ways than one.

Owners are discovering that having a patio deck or outside seating area helps recoup revenue lost in this last year and a half of COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions.

It’s why the number of applications to the city for outdoor seating areas has jumped this year.

As of this week, the City of St. John’s has received more than 80 applications from businesses wanting an outdoor seating area on either city-owned property or private commercial property. That’s double the amount received last year.

“It’s a good chance to put a few extra seats out and offer another option for customers,” said Christopher Rusted, who along with his son Jonathan, owns Manna European Bakery & Deli on Freshwater Road.

“It’s just a matter of staying alive.”

Rusted said the business received approval for a patio last week after applying in March — much longer than he expected.

Since businesses applying for outdoor areas on private property are required to go through individual public consultation — with neighbours within 150 metres having the opportunity to have their say after it’s advertised — the process is a longer one than for businesses applying on public property. With city-owned land — normally on street parking spaces — the application deadline is early, allowing the city to advertise public applications all at once.

Bannerman Brewing Co. owner Phil Maloney said his 20x20 deck, built in 2019, on Duckworth Street has been key in helping his business.

“When we were looking at this space in 2016, it was a no-brainer to have a deck … It’s been massive for us in the summer,” said Maloney, who owns the building lot.

This year, he plans to double the business’s outdoor capacity. He’s been approved for a picnic area extension on the front parking stalls.

He also pointed to the strict process of being approved by the city.

“One would think that it would actually be easier to apply when you’re on private land, but it’s twice as hard,” Maloney said. “It’s incredibly backwards, but it’s the way the rules go.”

Outdoor seating areas became popular during last year’s downtown pedestrian mall, for which 20 businesses were approved.

Earlier this year, city council approved the 2021 parklet program for outdoor areas for businesses to run from May 22 to Oct. 31. It also waived permit and application fees and included Churchill Square. This year, the pedestrian mall will also include George Street and a section of Duckworth Street.

“Last year, (our patio) was a godsend for us, financially,” Broderick’s Pub owner Darcy Broderick said.

However, Water Street deck will be half the size it was last year — going from 600 square feet to 300 — due to new city regulations, which state sidewalks must be accessible and expand less onto the street.

Broderick is just glad to have extra space for the summer and fall and is optimistic things will get better as the province opens up later in the year.

St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen said the idea of outdoor seating areas is really catching on throughout the city.

“We had an incredible summer last year and I think people saw the benefit,” he said. “Eighty (applications) is a pretty good number … I think that will probably increase over time.”

He said the city changed the approval process for public spaces, so there would be no adjustments required for decks once the pedestrian mall is over and the street reopens.

“We’ve been working on the process, and we’ve improved it again,” Breen said. “It’s a work in progress.”

He said when it comes to privately owned land, council is guided by legislation under the Urban and Rural Planning Act.

When asked if the parklet program will continue after the pandemic, Breen said council will assess it again next year.