Recently, the Central Business District crew from the Department of Public Works put their heads together to come up with a streetscape design for outdoor dining to accommodate restaurants as the seasons change in downtown Naperville.
Dick Dublinski, Director of Public Works, also sought input from Katie Wood, Executive Director of Downtown Naperville Alliance; Christine Jeffries, President of Naperville Development Partnership/Naperville Convention and Tourism Bureau and Dine Naperville; and Chris Mason, head chef and owner of Allegory, as they toured downtown to come up with attractive ideas.
Next the creative CBD crew assessed the inventory of leftover materials at the Department of Public Works for what they had available that might work. And within four days, they had an efficient plan that could be adapted for parking spaces along the streets in downtown Naperville. Thirteen locations have been identified.
For starters, the first set-up was placed in front of Quigley’s Irish Pub at 43 E. Jefferson Avenue on March 12. Patrons may recall a white-fence corral in front of Quigley’s in 2020, set up to expand space when protocols for the pandemic prevented indoor dining. For 2021, portable security fencing (aka FEMA bike racks) was painted black and large brick anchors will hold the fence in place. Accommodations were set for hanging flower baskets, strings of lights and outdoor carpeting.
A year ago, the City of Naperville permitted Mason to use parts of the sidewalk and two parking spaces along Main Street in front of Allegory for five wooden picnic tables, providing seating for 30 people. For 2021, tables will be spaced according to health recommendations.
Just as Quigley’s, Allegory will continue to offer curbside pickup.
Allegory’s space was set up March 22.
Possibly 13 participating downtown restaurateurs will work in concert with a similar look. Others may repeat what they did last year.
“Exciting this year is that some restaurants and retailers are teaming up and working with neighboring businesses,” said Jeffries. “Dean’s and Allegory have come up with ideas that they’ll present later in April.”
Funding for the streetscape for outdoor dining is provided for downtown Naperville by the CDBG COVID Relief Fund for Economic Development.
For a listing of nearly 300 local eateries, visit www.dinenaperville.com.
