Dining at some Carlsbad Village restaurants may soon be a whole new experience, thanks to the City Council's adoption of a pilot program that will allow some businesses the opportunity to offer “curb caf?s” in the Village, temporary decks that let restaurants extend their dining areas onto parking spaces in front of the restaurant.
They're meant to provide unique dining experiences that will attract more diners to restaurants in the Village.
Belynn Gonzales, owner of Garcia's Mexican Restaurant & Creative Catering, said she has been working on bringing a proposal to allow curb caf?s to the City Council for about a year and a half, even going as far as having an architect come up with plans. She was pleased to find that Urban Place Consulting Group, hired by the city to head the village's revitalization effort, was a proponent of the project.
“It was so cool,” Gonzales said. “We already had the architectural plans.”
The City is opening the pilot program to a maximum of 11 village restaurants, which can be located on all of the core village streets with the exception of Carlsbad Village Drive and Carlsbad Boulevard.
Each caf? will be able to take up a maximum of two parking spaces. Four will be allowed per block with the exception of State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand, where five will be allowed.
As of press time, Garcia's was the only restaurant that had submitted a proposal for a curbside cafe.
Gonzales said she would like more restaurants to take part in the program, and hopes that it would help bring character to the Village of Carlsbad.
“I've traveled through Europe a lot, and they have a lot of this outdoor dining,” Gonzales said. “It allows people to walk and explore the area. I would like to see strolling entertainers, people cruising and I would encourage other stores, whether they're restaurants or not, to stay open. I think this could provide more business opportunities downtown. I don't want to be the only one.”
According to the City of Carlsbad, restaurants will be able to take up to two spaces for curb cafes. The pilot program will be open to 11 businesses.
Gonzales said the extra space will allow her to add six more tables, adding space for 24 more customers at the time. She said that expects to hire about five new employees, including servers and a host, to work in the expanded area, and said she expects other restaurants may have to do the same.
“This program could bring some new jobs to the area,” she said. “I don't see anything but positive.”
Ted Owen, president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber supports the effort, since it promotes businesses in the village.
“This will bring more visibility to our village restaurants and to the surrounding businesses,” Owen said.
Steve Gibson, president and founder of Urban Place Consulting Group, said that Carlsbad is “one of just a few cities” that would create a similar policy.
“It's a great example of how a city can create an environment that encourages new ideas,” he said.
They're meant to provide unique dining experiences that will attract more diners to restaurants in the Village.
Belynn Gonzales, owner of Garcia's Mexican Restaurant & Creative Catering, said she has been working on bringing a proposal to allow curb caf?s to the City Council for about a year and a half, even going as far as having an architect come up with plans. She was pleased to find that Urban Place Consulting Group, hired by the city to head the village's revitalization effort, was a proponent of the project.
“It was so cool,” Gonzales said. “We already had the architectural plans.”
The City is opening the pilot program to a maximum of 11 village restaurants, which can be located on all of the core village streets with the exception of Carlsbad Village Drive and Carlsbad Boulevard.
Each caf? will be able to take up a maximum of two parking spaces. Four will be allowed per block with the exception of State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand, where five will be allowed.
As of press time, Garcia's was the only restaurant that had submitted a proposal for a curbside cafe.
Gonzales said she would like more restaurants to take part in the program, and hopes that it would help bring character to the Village of Carlsbad.
“I've traveled through Europe a lot, and they have a lot of this outdoor dining,” Gonzales said. “It allows people to walk and explore the area. I would like to see strolling entertainers, people cruising and I would encourage other stores, whether they're restaurants or not, to stay open. I think this could provide more business opportunities downtown. I don't want to be the only one.”
According to the City of Carlsbad, restaurants will be able to take up to two spaces for curb cafes. The pilot program will be open to 11 businesses.
Gonzales said the extra space will allow her to add six more tables, adding space for 24 more customers at the time. She said that expects to hire about five new employees, including servers and a host, to work in the expanded area, and said she expects other restaurants may have to do the same.
“This program could bring some new jobs to the area,” she said. “I don't see anything but positive.”
Ted Owen, president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber supports the effort, since it promotes businesses in the village.
“This will bring more visibility to our village restaurants and to the surrounding businesses,” Owen said.
Steve Gibson, president and founder of Urban Place Consulting Group, said that Carlsbad is “one of just a few cities” that would create a similar policy.
“It's a great example of how a city can create an environment that encourages new ideas,” he said.