SIDEWALK CAFES ARE HERE TO STAY IN KEY WEST

The foursome of visitors enjoying an al fresco meal at Clemente’s on Fleming Street on the evening of March 22 had no idea sidewalk cafe tables were relatively new in Key West.

“You’re kidding. With the weather you guys have, we always ask to eat outside,” one woman said. “I can’t believe it took so long. I figured you’d always had sidewalk tables..”

Nope. That was a pandemic addition that will continue beyond COVID.

A pre-pandemic pilot project called Mall on Duval introduced the idea of sidewalk dining, but only on a few blocks of Duval Street and only on the weekend.

Then came COVID, closures and capacity restrictions. 

In an effort to help local businesses, city officials allowed restaurants to move tables outside onto sidewalks, as long as there was ample room for pedestrians to pass.

Their popularity with businesses and customers was immediately apparent, and City Manager Patti McLauchlin and Assistant City Manager Todd Stoughton started working on a program to make the option permanent.

Key West restaurants, including La Trattoria on Duval Street and Clemente’s on Fleming Street, have embraced the city’s new Sidewalk Cafe program, as have diners. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

“We knew people liked it, and we wanted it to continue beyond the pandemic, so we started formalizing a process,” McLauchlin said. “We went downtown and sat with the business owners and listened to what they had to say.”

The first iteration of the city’s Sidewalk Cafe met with some resistance from business owners due to the high per-seat cost – $590 per seat – proposed by the city.

Changes were made and the one-time, per-seat fees are now billed over seven years to make the program affordable for more restaurants. 

“We’re getting great response from the businesses and from diners. It looks nice and is a great addition for the island,” said McLauchlin, who added that the city is about to issue a Request for Proposals from companies interested in redesigning and renovating Duval Street.

“Now that the Sidewalk Cafe program is in place, proposals for the Duval Street renovation will be tailored to take those tables and that program into account.”

The RFP for Duval Street’s revitalization will be released this month, and responses will come back in about 90 days; a committee will review them and recommend their top picks to the city commission.

Some suggestions for Duval Street have included additional landscaping, wider sidewalks or the elimination of curbs to make the street and sidewalks one level. Such a design would allow aesthetically pleasing and removable barricades to separate street from sidewalk except during special events, when certain blocks could potentially become pedestrian-only.

Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.