News Flash Home
The original item was published from 8/21/2020 11:06:51 AM to 8/22/2021 12:00:03 AM.

News Flash

City of Malden News

Posted on: August 21, 2020

[ARCHIVED] Outdoor Dining Thrives in Malden

Outdoor Restaurant Photo

COVID19 had dealt a devastating blow to the restaurant industry. After being closed completely for months, restaurants began to reopen, faced with the reality of reduced capacity and a public reluctant to dine out even with strict protocols in place.  As soon as the opportunity presented itself, the City of Malden began working with local restaurants to enable them to extend dining outdoors in the most safe, efficient way possible.

“This isn’t a one size fits all approach,” commented Mayor Gary Christenson. “We were after real solutions that actually helped Malden restauranteurs. To accomplish this, we created an expedited process to approve new outdoor dining areas. That meant we fast-tracked all the applications and the inspections and held Licensing Board meetings each week to process all the restaurants as they applied. By doing so, we let them know their success was important to us and we were going to help them in every way we could.”

The expedited process allowed restaurants to apply for a variety of outdoor seating options that included dining on sidewalks, in on-street parking spaces, and in parking lots. In total there were twenty restaurants who applied for expanded outdoor seating and all twenty applicants received approvals. Some restaurants were able to easily utilize existing outdoor space on-premises to extend dining outdoors. Faces on Pleasant Street was able to convert their back-parking lot and create an outdoor dining room. “The City of Malden allowed us to turn our parking area into an outdoor dining space, which has immeasurably helped us adapt to the changing hospitality industry in the wake of the pandemic,” commented Dan Martignetti Jr., owner of Faces Brewing Company. 

Similarly, Pearl Street Station expanded dining to their parking lot. “The City made it easy,” commented Pearl Street manager Paul Solano. “Working with the Mayor’s office, we were able to quickly get approval to begin outdoor dining in our parking lot.”

Although the Traffic Commission has authorized the use of on-street parking citywide for outdoor dining, many successful and experienced operators have decided it isn’t viable for them. As expressed by Dan Martignetti, Jr. of Faces Brewing Company, “Many of our customers have expressed feeling more comfortable dining in our beer garden than inside but expanding our outdoor space into the street is not something that interests us. People feel safe and comfortable in our socially distanced beer garden, so expanding it and placing our customers near oncoming traffic and exhaust fumes is not a worthwhile endeavor, in our eyes.”

The City received a single request for on-street dining, but multiple officials expressed concern over the risk to customers being so close to vehicular traffic and exhaust fumes. However, committed to creating the requested capacity in a safe way, the City’s building commissioner came with a measuring tape and helped work out a plan to add the requested outdoor seating, but in a safer way along the sidewalk. It was one of many instances where the Mayor’s team worked with restaurant owners to help them solve the challenge of their unique circumstances. “The Mayor’s team helped me understand the best way to utilize my parking lot so I could maximize my seating, and they worked with me on my tents so I could offer my customers a comfortable experience,” said Lawrence Williams, owner of the Doo Wop Diner on Main Street.

As we hold out hope for a vaccine to arrive soon, all these hard-working restaurants and their employees look forward to the day when restaurants can operate at capacity with lively bars and entertainment. When that will be is anyone’s guess. 

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in City of Malden News

Memorial Day

Memorial Day in Malden 2023

Posted on: May 11, 2023
Triangle Clients

Triangle, Inc. Visits City Hall

Posted on: April 24, 2023
Arab American Heritage month

Arab American Heritage Month

Posted on: April 20, 2023
Chief Sullivan Retirement

Fire Chief Bill Sullivan Retires

Posted on: March 30, 2023
Black Earth Compost

Malden Announces Composting Program

Posted on: April 4, 2023
GREEN MALDEN FAIR Banner

Malden to Hold Green Malden Fair

Posted on: April 4, 2023
MTEC field trip

MTEC Camping Trip

Posted on: March 22, 2023
103 Birthday

Celebrating a 103rd Birthday!

Posted on: March 22, 2023
ARPA - YMCA

City Awards ARPA Funds to YMCA

Posted on: February 21, 2023
rock spot

Grand Opening of Rock Spot Climbing

Posted on: January 12, 2023
City of Malden Trash Holiday (2)

“Trash Holiday”

Posted on: December 13, 2022
Butch Lessard

Longtime City Employee Celebrates 25 Years

Posted on: December 14, 2022
Trash Tag 2023 Greenpng

2023 Trash Tags Now Available!

Posted on: December 13, 2022
Rosene Wine

Malden Artist Brightens City Hall

Posted on: December 1, 2022
Maureen McGaffigan 80th

Maureen McGaffigan Celebrates 80 Years

Posted on: November 30, 2022
Afnaan - 2

Malden Student Recognized for Advocacy

Posted on: November 22, 2022
Enoch Woodhouse

Celebrating a True American Hero

Posted on: November 17, 2022
Carmella and Bill Nelson

Celebrating a Platinum Anniversary!

Posted on: November 17, 2022
Lincoln Commons

Improved Lighting on Lincoln Commons

Posted on: November 15, 2022
News from the City of Malden

City Awarded Grant for Kierstead Park

Posted on: November 8, 2022
Malden Alerts Flyer (1)

Malden’s Alert System is Being Updated

Posted on: November 8, 2022
Blue Bike Photo

Bluebikes in Malden!

Posted on: October 20, 2022
axon battery camera 3

Malden Police Body-Worn Camera Program

Posted on: October 20, 2022
Floramos

Grand Opening of Floramo’s Restaurant

Posted on: October 11, 2022
Blue Ocean Nails Bar

Grand Opening of Blue Ocean Nails Bar

Posted on: October 11, 2022
ARPA

City Awards ARPA Funds to Local Non-Profits

Posted on: September 26, 2022
Procopio Family

Celebrating a Diamond Anniversary

Posted on: September 15, 2022
Public Safety Day flyer (2)

Malden’s 4th Annual Public Safety Day

Posted on: September 13, 2022
08 - Sylvain Counseling Services

Sylvain Counseling Services Grand Opening

Posted on: September 13, 2022
Ryan Dos Santos

Mayor Thanks Local Hero for Stepping In

Posted on: September 13, 2022
Green Malden

City Announces New Green Malden Initiative

Posted on: September 7, 2022
Riverrendering

City awarded Grant for Malden River Works

Posted on: September 1, 2022
Green Communities

Malden Plugs Away at Energy Conservation

Posted on: September 1, 2022
Top Cars

Top Cars Motor Group Grand Opening

Posted on: August 25, 2022
Mystic Valley Salon

Grand Opening of Mystic Valley Salon

Posted on: August 23, 2022
Malden Climate Action Logo

Malden Announces Climate Action Plan

Posted on: August 11, 2022
Challenger Day

Malden to Host Challenger Day Games

Posted on: August 10, 2022
NNO photo

2022 National Night Out

Posted on: August 4, 2022
Converse Family Reunion at Fellsmere Park

City Hosts Converse Family Reunion

Posted on: July 5, 2022
Art at city hall

Malden Artists Collaborate

Posted on: June 23, 2022
Food link

Mayor Tours Food Link in Arlington

Posted on: June 9, 2022