Oklahoma City Promotes Restaurant & Bar ‘Streateries’

The restaurant business is slowly returning after dining rooms were forced to close their doors.

But COVID-19 is changing how comfortable we feel while dining out.

The city is now hoping to serve up some piece of mind.

Kamps 1910 Café on 10th has two patios and the General Manager wishes it were three.

“People feel safe outside,” said Kamps’ Amber Stickland.

On film row, Joey’s Pizzeria is getting more calls from people wondering if they have patio seating.

“People love patios and they love sitting outside,” said Tea Abdolovic, of Joey’s Pizzaeria, which only has four outdoor seats right now.

Oklahoma City now wants to help restaurants and bars expand their tables onto sidewalks and even into nearby parking spots.

“It’s about that street activation,” said Jane Jenkins, CEO of the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership.

It helped the city craft a streamline process to create what are referred to as "streateries."

“Whether you are walking by or driving by you are going to see the street is a lot more activated than just the inside of a restaurant,” said Jenkins.

Permits will last until Dec 30.

Items like umbrellas, space heaters, and potted plants for barriers may even be eligible for the OKC’s Coronavirus Relief Fund reimbursement.

The city is just now accepting applications to restaurant and bars to set up streateries.