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KCMO council to vote today on outdoor dining extension

An ordinance created earlier this year by the Kansas City, Mo. City Council allowing restaurants to open dining rooms to sidewalks and other spaces outside their establishments will be readdressed today, the council to vote on whether to extend the ordinance to April 2021.

Many Kansas City metro restaurant owners are concerned that as the weather changes, so too will the amount of customers wanting to eat outside.

On May 21, the KCMO City Council allowed restaurants to open dining rooms to the sidewalk or, in some cases, block off streets to allow for more outdoor dining. And on Thursday, the council will vote on whether or not to extend the ordinance until April 2021 as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Eating outside has been a benefit for several businesses as a way to make up for lost capacity on the inside.

Some are making changes to make customers more comfortable if they want to eat outside in the cooler weather. While costly, they’ve also discussed adding heaters on the restaurant’s big back patio.

The city dished out thousands of dollars to help restaurants, but it ran out quickly as the demand soared throughout the pandemic.

Business owners said they hope federal relief comes soon, in what could be a long winter.