Seattle’s streetside cafes could turn into everlasting after program prolonged

Seattle City Council unanimously approved a measure to allow sidewalk cafes to be allowed for free and extended a pilot program.

SEATTLE – Necessity is the mother of all reinvention and can now lead to permanent change in Seattle.

On Monday, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved a measure to allow sidewalk cafes to be allowed for free and extended a pilot program launched during the pandemic.

“We’re able to meet changing health guidelines without affecting our business as much,” said Seattle Council member Dan Strauss as he strolled down Ballard Avenue with KING 5 on Monday.

His bill, co-sponsored by Seattle City Council President Lorena Gonzalez, extends the program through May 2022 and allows companies to seek permission to expand their outdoor seating in public parking lots and other public spaces.

Several Ballard companies took advantage of the program and built semi-permanent wooden pergolas along Ballard Avenue. Max Genereaux, who owns Hattie’s Hat, is one of them.

“Every seat in a restaurant is money and it will help me get out of debt,” said Genereaux, describing the past few months as a “living hell” for small business owners.

Genereaux said the coalition of business owners decided to go for unity to increase pedestrian traffic and make the area a destination.

“I feel a lot of hope,” said Genereaux. “I feel better now than this whole pandemic, at least from a business perspective.”

Strauss says he fully intends the measure to be permanent. The legislation allows additional time to work out a long-term strategy with the Seattle Department of Transportation.