Early Birds Line Up At City Hall For Shot At Sidewalk Café Permits
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A dream of spring on their smiling faces, restaurant owners trudged through the snow Friday to get instructions on opening up sidewalk cafés from officials at City Hall.
"You have to start planning early, because permits, they take a while," said Salvatore Corona, owner of La Catrina in Pilsen.
Corona said he has to buy new chairs and tables, and polish up the coffee maker before he can open a sidewalk café this spring. He said, as soon as Home Depot begins spring sales, he'll start filling up his sidewalk planters.
"All different colors. It's very colorful," he said.
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Jamie Natara doesn't even have a restaurant yet, but he could already hear bird singing outside the sidewalk café he envisions opening on the Northwest Side. He said the snow only serves to encourage him to look forward to spring.
"Imagine birds … a tree in the sidewalk, four or three tables, with the chairs and the people laughing, enjoying the time, using sunglasses," Natara said.
Natara said he's just starting to think of a menu.
Chicago sidewalk café permits are valid only for a year, so restaurants must apply for a new one every year.
