Downtown Pittsburgh expanding outdoor dining to reconfigured streets

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership announced plans Monday to allow restaurants and bars to expand their outdoor dining seating into some streets.

Some of the Downtown areas include Sixth Street from Liberty Avenue to Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Strawberry Way between Smithfield and Grant streets, Penn Avenue between Ninth and 10th streets, and Market Square.

Officials said the changes, beginning early next month, impact 72 restaurants and nearby businesses. The reconfiguration “will require adjustments to pavement markings and signage while providing the appropriate barricades,” officials said.

“These small businesses represent the lifeblood of our vibrant Downtown, so we are reinventing our street spaces to create outdoor dining experiences that allow restaurants further opportunities to reopen safely while delivering unique destinations in the heart of our city,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

“These inviting spaces will continue to evolve over the next few weeks as we introduce public art and live music,” Waldrup added.

David Priselac, owner of Market Street Grocery and Emerson’s, said the moves are vital to sustaining their business and eventually returning to normal operations.

Enjoy your favorite restaurant outdoors ?️ With the support of @PNCBank and the R.K. Mellon Foundation, we’re working with business owners to expand sidewalks and cafe seating around Downtown in the coming weeks. Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/6ydTRc75sc pic.twitter.com/6HbPtNyOml

— Downtown Pittsburgh (@DowntownPitt) June 22, 2020

Chris Watts, vice president for mobility for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, said they will monitor how it’s working and make changes if necessary. The outdoor dining options required input from business owners, engineers and designers, he said.

“We wanted to do something because Downtown businesses were devastated by the shutdown from March,” Watts said. “We believe we have found a way to repurpose sidewalks and streets, allowing for safe distancing so that people can enjoy their favorite Downtown businesses again.”

The Richard King Mellon Foundation provided a grant to help fund the project through its covid-19 economic impact and recovery initiative.

PNC Bank also provided support.

The street spaces are expected to remain a fixture until mid-to-late October. There also are plans to expand to other Downtown locations throughout the summer.