Over 44% of New York City restaurant operators reported they wouldn't offer outdoor dining due to high fees and a confusing application process, highlighting a significant setback.
Andrew Rigie of the NYC Hospitality Alliance emphasized the need for improved rules to allow more restaurants to participate, stating that proper enhancements are essential for achieving the city’s outdoor dining goals.
The drastic drop in outdoor dining sheds is alarming, with only about 2,600 restaurants applying for the new program compared to the anticipated 5,000; this reflects the regulations’ complexity.
These changes mark a stark return to pre-pandemic levels, where only approximately 1,400 restaurants offered outdoor dining options compared to the thousands during the pandemic.
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