The recently introduced outdoor dining program in the city has led to financial strain for business owners, as costs can surpass $35,000. With decreased participation, only about 2,450 setups are reported compared to as many as 8,000 during the pandemic, where participation was free. This shift has resulted in a concentration of dining options in affluent neighborhoods. Restaurateurs have voiced their challenges, citing costs as prohibitive, prompting legislative efforts to reinstate a year-round program similar to the previous pandemic provisions.
The cost is just an insane amount of pressure and the margins are very thin, and [the pandemic-era 12-month program] was a thing that eased it just a little bit.
The new program counts about 2,450 roadway and sidewalk set ups, but it has reverted back to mostly Manhattan and wealthier parts of Brooklyn.
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