SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The permit for outdoor dining in La Jolla Shores is just days away from expiring, but there’s a plan in the works to keep it in place permanently.
“Post-COVID it has shifted to more outdoor, European-style dining,” said Arturs Dreimanis, who works at Barbarella Restaurant and Bar
What started as sometimes the only option for eating out during more tumultuous times, has now become a preference for many.
“People really love it. I deal with tourists every day and people say ‘Oh my gosh, this is so nice. I hope you can keep it closed,'” said Dave Schutz, owner at Cheese Shop.
Astretch of Avenida De La Playa in La Jolla Shores has been closed to traffic and servicing extra outdoor dining areas since 2020 and now there’s an application in progress to make these changes permanent.
“If we make it permanent that the street would be closed, I feel like a lot of restaurants can feel that relief like we want to make this a permanent structure, inviting, welcoming, and staying for good,” explained Dreimanis.
A current special events permit is set to expire Saturday, Aug. 9, while a “right of way” permit is currently under review with the city. If approved, it would turn the area officially into a promenade that would not have an expiration date or require renewal.
“It’s a really nice atmosphere out there, and I think for me the most important thing is the safety for pedestrians,” said Schutz.
The current setup gets rave reviews from visitors and nearby businesses, however the biggest complaint from locals has been the loss of 24 parking spots. Those spots would need to be replaced if the project goes through.
“Honestly, the parking here is going to be atrocious no matter what, especially in the summertime. So having about 20, 30, however, many spots not being there, isn’t going to affect too much at all,” said Magnus Fitzmaurice, who works at La Jolla Kayak.
As for if the new permit will come through before the current one expires, a spokesperson for the city says: “the city is working with the applicant, who is aware of the expiration and diligently pursuing their permit.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
