In Pictures: Are New York鈥檚 dining sheds here to stay?
| New York
The streets of New York have always been jampacked, but since the pandemic, they鈥檝e also been full of outdoor dining sheds.
During lockdown, these structures kept many restaurants in business. More than two years later, some have become eyesores while others have added color and life to the neighborhoods in which they operate.聽
The sheds were allowed under the Open Restaurants program, which the city is working to make permanent. The mayor鈥檚 office says new regulations will address neighbors鈥� concerns about increased noise, sanitation problems, and lack of access.
Why We Wrote This
A story focused onThe dining shed quickly emerged as a pandemic lifeline for New York restaurants. What began as an emergency stopgap has since become a community fixture that the city wants to make permanent.
A group of residents from several boroughs filed a lawsuit to remove the sheds because they say the structures harbor pests and block parking spaces.聽
Michael Abruscato understands the issue. When SAINT, the restaurant he manages, took over its current location, a dilapidated dining shed stood in front. SAINT鈥檚 owners replaced it with a more secure and stylish structure, decorated to match the restaurant鈥檚 interior.聽
Maintenance isn鈥檛 easy. Mr. Abruscato keeps a bucket of paint on hand to cover the inevitable graffiti. Despite challenges, the restaurant manager has plans to winterize the pergola and create an outdoor 鈥渨inter wonderland鈥� dining experience for the months ahead.聽
鈥淚 lived in LA for 15 years, and I鈥檓 so used to outdoor dining,鈥� Mr. Abruscato says. 鈥淟iving in the Northeast, you鈥檙e always kind of stuck inside. So it鈥檚 beautiful to have it now. ... It just changes the vibe.鈥�
