Outdoor dining in New Jersey to continue through at least November 2024
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. -- Outdoor dining is here to stay for the foreseeable future in New Jersey.
On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an extension many restaurants still call a lifeline two years after the start of COVID-19, CBS2's Christina Fan reported.
Elia Mediterranean Restaurant's outdoor patio isn't just a beautiful oasis. It's the only reason the East Rutherford fish house, with no take-out option, survived the pandemic.
"If it wasn't for outdoor dining, we would have shuttered this place," Tim Salouros said.
Two years post-COVID, Salouros said most guests still prefer to sit outside. With outdoor dining set to end this fall, he and his wife fought for its renewal.
On Wednesday, the governor signed a two-year extension that will run through 2024.
"They've come to enjoy the new atmosphere, character and sense of place outdoor dining has given to their neighborhoods and downtowns, and let me say this unequivocally, we want this to continue. We want our restaurants to be not just locations but destinations," the governor said.
The law allows restaurants and bars to set up tables, tents and chairs on private property, sidewalks, and other municipally designated outdoor areas.
While outdoor dining has always been allowed in New Jersey, the law simplifies the process for businesses to get approval for their setups.
"We have a lot of flexibility and dynamic and approach to hospitality the next two years," said Frank Giampa of Vesta Wood-Fired.
But not everybody has embraced al fresco.
Earlier this year, Ridgewood restored streets to their pre-pandemic state, removing outdoor corrals and the pedestrian plaza that was taking up parking for other stores.
"We had complaints about the maintenance, the appearance, the sanitation, the garbage," Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen said.
But restaurants are pushing to make outdoor dining a permanent reality.
Murphy said he's open minded and will watch things progress the next two years.