‘Streateries’ program extended in Tucson

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TUCSON (KVOA) – If you’re a fan of the expanded outdoor seating at restaurants that were introduced during the pandemic, stay a little longer.

“Streateries” started in May 2020 with the “Temporary expansion of the restaurant seating program”. It allows local restaurants to expand seating on private properties, public parking lots, and other public paths.

In early August, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and the city council voted to develop a permanent city-wide program expansion called “Shared Spaces”. This could include other options like parklets, small public spaces that could offer things like seating, planting, bicycle parking, art, or games.

The city announced that more than 40 extensions had been processed since May last year, 28 were on a right of way.

“It’s been such a wonderful experience for us,” said Jackie Sharma, owner of downtown Bombolé and Ike’s Coffee, “because we’ve been around for years, since we owned Ike’s and since we started Bombolé.”

Tucsonans can continue to enjoy this new way of visiting their favorite restaurants and bars, which integrates the dining experience with the built environment and desert climate of our city. We plan to do this permanently!

More examples:

Ike’s Coffee, Bombolé and Penca. pic.twitter.com/MmTkxusiBD

– Regina Romero (@TucsonRomero) August 19, 2021

Sharma said the program has helped her keep her doors open and wants more local restaurants to expand to outdoor seating in the future.

“It was just wonderful,” she said. “We were able to use the funds because we didn’t really have the business to expand and it was just an extra hassle with all the expense and COVID.”

A Tucson city spokesman said city officials will begin updating relevant sections of the city’s code and making this program permanent. The city said it would begin a long process of stakeholder and community engagement.

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