Manhattan Beach Ends Outdoor Dining, Surprises Restaurant Owners

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — The city of Manhattan Beach this week opted to end its outdoor dining program, which was created to help businesses continue operating and have risen to popularity in the pandemic.

The program had been extended three times since June 2020 and will now end by Jan. 3.

Restaurant and cafe owners are expected to remove the dining deck areas — and some business owners and residents were surprised by the city's decision.

City officials cited increased traffic downtown, trash, inability to clean streets and sidewalks, interruptions with access under the Americans with Disabilities Act, reduced parking, narrow driving area, noise and risky pedestrian safety as among reasons for ending the program.

"The city will begin the process to consider outdoor dining on public property in Manhattan Beach and explore options to include the program as part of the city’s character," according to the city.

Several locals voiced their disagreement with the decision via the city's Facebook page.

"Why don’t they keep them up while they figure out the long-term solution? So ridiculous," Nicole Burke wrote. "They will lose business and people will go to other cities for the outdoor dining. I truly think this is a horrible decision since the pandemic is far from over."

Some cited the ongoing pandemic as the main reason they want outdoor dining to continue in Manhattan Beach.

"My family will not eat at restaurants with no outdoor dining options," Marie Schwarzkopf-Olivas said.

People argued that outdoor dining is perfect for the beach and helpful for businesses to stay open.

"Outdoor dining should stay. Zero desire to eat indoors at the beach, especially while the pandemic continues," Selena Amara said.

In nearby Hermosa Beach, the city council voted Tuesday night to extend Hermosa Beach’s temporary outdoor dining and retail program and its lane reconfiguration program to May 31, 2022.

“These temporary programs helped our businesses survive and kept our residents and visitors safe during the pandemic restrictions,” Hermosa Beach Mayor Mike Detoy said.

“These projects also created a more walkable, bike-able and welcoming Downtown," Detoy said. "Our action Tuesday ensures that we will fully assess the impacts of the expanded outdoor operations for our local businesses and the lane configuration program on the City’s traffic, parking and budget before determining whether to make these programs permanent and, if we do make them permanent, what other changes are needed to improve the programs.”

Santa Monica has also opted to continue its outdoor dining program, waiving fees for temporary use permits for outdoor dining and retail activations, including sidewalk dining, parklets, and the Promenade satellite through June 2022.

Patch Asks: What do you think about the city's decision? Should outdoor dining remain in Manhattan Beach?

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 7:06 a.m. Thursday with additional information about other cities extending outdoor dining.

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