Woonsocket Opens Market Square Roads To Outdoor Dining

WOONSOCKET, RI — Portions of roads around Market Square will be closed starting Friday to help local restaurants create additional seating as part of the state's reopening of the economy. Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt issued an executive order closing parts of the roads for dining as a way to help restaurants navigate through the early phases of the state's slow reopening plan.

"Our restaurants have been devastated due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Baldelli-Hunt said. "We have a moral obligation to take quick and decisive action to support their efforts as they attempt to reopen and offer outside dining services."

The order will allow restaurants with liquor licenses to serve customers who are eating food in line with additional seating on sidewalks, parking lots and portions of some roads. The order will be in effect for May 22, May 23, May 24, May 39 and May 30. Gov. Raimondo has indicated a phase two may allow for some indoor seating starting in early June. Baldelli-Hunt said additional dates could be added based on the pace of the overall restaurant openings.

The partial road closures will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Baldelli-Hunt said she sought input from area restaurants, including Christopher's Kitchen + Bar
and Ye Olde English Fish & Chips, who have expressed the need for assistance. The Mayor's office also reached out to River Falls Restaurant to assess their needs.

"We will work closely with these restaurants and the city's Department of Public Safety and Department of Public Works to ensure the needs of the restaurants are supported while also protecting public safety," Baldelli-Hunt said.

Main Street and Market Square will remain accessible to traffic, with possible lane closures, amid the extended outdoor dining.

Related RI Coverage: Reopening RI: Raimondo Outlines Benchmarks For Phase Two

240 New Cases Of Coronavirus In Rhode Island; 10 Deaths

Reopening RI: Small Business Owners Worry About Survival

Raimondo: Summer Camps OK, No Youth Sports For Now