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Monrovia Restaurants Frustrated With City and County Politics Regarding Outdoor Dining
Business Jul 29, 2020
The Diplomat, as with all restaurants in Los Angeles County, is forced to offer only outside seating for the foreseeable future. - Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
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Just take awalk or drive down Myrtle Avenue and you might be stunned with the number ofoutdoor dining options Monrovia businesses offer. Even outside the movietheatre.
Newly city-installedbarriers and newly created “patios,” that restaurants like The Diplomat havebuilt at their own expense, have opened a world of dining possibilities whenindoor dining has been prohibited due to COVID-19.
Not everyoneis apparently adhering to the strict health and safety rules and when onebusiness does not comply it could be curtains for everyone else.
Last week,the city manager threatened to nix the outdoorpilot program if thebusinesses and customers do not adhere to the county Safer at Work and in the Communitymandate.
“In orderfor the City of Monrovia to allow expanded outdoor dining to occur, the citymust certify that Safer at Work and in the Community protocols arefollowed, masks are worn, and physical distancing is practiced. If businessowners, residents and patrons cannot adhere to the guidelines, the pilotprogram will have to end,” Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik wrote in an updateWednesday afternoon.
To keep theprogram alive and successful the city manager has outlined the followingguidelines:
- All visitorsmust wear a mask when not eating and drinking. This includes those walking inthe street or waiting for a table.
- All alcoholmust be consumed at the dining table. At no time should customers walk in thestreet with an alcohol beverage.
- Patrons mustbe seated 6 feet apart from other parties. Outdoor dining tables must be placed6 feet apart. Additionally, aisles will remain open to provide space for thosewalking in the street to move freely between the various expanded spaces.
JoeyKouchakian, owner of The Diplomat, has invested $10,000 in new outdoor patioareas for two of his restaurants on Lemon in Old Town Monrovia just to be ableto survive.
Kouchakian,who is no stranger to city rules and regulations, said that the city waived thepermit fee to install the patio areas but that is about all.
Theadditional expenses and constant changes in health codes due to rising COVID-19cases in California have affected all businesses but, perhaps, none more sothan restaurants.
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