The first sidewalk café under Rome’s new permit guide will open Monday at Great Harvest Bread Co., 606 Broad St.
“Oh, this spring is going to be great,” said owner Carol Rutledge. “The weather’s perfect for it right now.”
The new permit guide sets forth regulations for the al fresco dining popular on the sidewalks of Rome’s downtown eateries when spring arrives.
Click here for a July 2007 story about the sidewalk cafe ordinance.
For example, the sidewalk café cannot extend in either direction beyond the outside front wall of the restaurant. Unobstructed pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk must be provided between the café area and the curb. Tables and chairs must match and cannot be secured to public street fixtures.
Connected posts and chains must maintain the boundaries. The permit holder must maintain the area in a clean, neat and orderly manner.
Sidewalk cafes are exempt from restrictions on open containers if the establishment is otherwise licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
But the permit holder must post approved signs designating the limits of the open-container area.
Rutledge said her outdoor café will have four 32-inch tables with four umbrellas and four chairs at each table.
She said she’ll be serving her restaurant’s usual fare, primarily “hot and cold sandwiches and salads, which will be really nice as the weather warms up.”
Downtown Development Authority Director Ann Arnold said she has also received an application from Harvest Moon, and that Jefferson’s and El Zarape have expressed interest.
