Old Town Monrovia Report: Board to consider dropping outdoor dining program

By Shawn Spencer

When our community was first hit with the COVID-19 pandemic and businesses were forced to close, our city staff diligently and creatively put in place various measures of support. A moratorium was placed on commercial evictions, certain zoning provisions were suspended, and outdoor business operations were expanded and enhanced.  

To some, these measures included the use of creative signage being allowed on the sidewalk or building façade; the expansion of sales and services on the sidewalks and the closure of the 400 block of Myrtle Ave for enhanced street dining on Friday and Saturday nights. 

The enhanced street dining also led to the issuance of TOBO permits, or Temporary Outdoor Business Operation permits. These permits allowed restaurants that had limited or no indoor seating to open outdoors into public rights of way, streets, alleys, parking lots and spaces etc.  

The TOBO program began in July 2020, and there are currently nineteen active permits in Monrovia; fifteen of those are in Old Town. You have seen them in front of Café de Olla, Gray & Cash, The Diplomat, Basin 141 and 38 Degrees, to name a few. Once indoor operations at restaurants resumed, the TOBOs remained popular to those who were still Covid-wary and to others who preferred to sit outside.  

MOTAB, the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board, reviewed the enhanced outdoor dining on a monthly basis and discussed its viability, both short and long term.  With the onset of winter, the use of the TOBOs dwindled significantly. Use of the TOBOs, while benefitting some businesses, resulted in the loss of 24 parking spaces, which has been a hindrance for others. 

Some of the businesses with TOBO permits are only open until midday, leaving empty structures while still taking up the parking spaces. MOTAB also voiced concern with the unsightly nature of the TOBOs and the unfair business advantage afforded to some business owners, but not all.  

MOTAB was incredibly pleased with the effectiveness of the program, the assistance it provided to our restaurant owners and the peace of mind it provided to community members that wanted to dine out.  However, at their meeting on Jan. 18, MOTAB voted to recommend that the TOBO program be suspended and/or discontinued, effective Feb. 28.  This item is on the agenda and will go before the City Council on Feb. 1 for discussion.

Feelings about this are mixed.  While all businesses were appreciative of the efforts put forth by the city, a few feel that the enhanced dining is essential to the success of their business.  There are also community members that feel it is too soon to discontinue outdoor dining.  

Rest assured that outdoor dining is not ending.  Restaurant owners are still able to get a permit for sidewalk dining. The enhanced outdoor dining was an emergency measure and was always meant to be temporary.  With that being said, there is no reason that enhanced dining could not resume, should the need arise.  I am sure we are all in agreement that we hope the need does not recommence! 

The success of our businesses and the safety of their staff and our community is always of paramount importance, but we can’t forget about our retail shop owners and professional businesses that rely on the limited amount of parking we have in Old Town. Monrovia is full of community spirit, and we are fiercely loyal to our businesses.  I’m confident that people will continue to support local no matter what the City Council decides.

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