Cincinnati To Close Some Streets To Help Restaurants Expand Outdoor Dining

Cincinnati will be closing some streets in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine starting next weekend to allow restaurants to expand their outdoor dining areas.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday restaurants can open for outside dining May 15 and inside dining May 21. Restaurants have guidelines they must abide by, devised by a working group comprised of industry representatives from across the state.

"So, expanding outdoor spacing is going to be vital to them having a financial way forward through this crisis," said Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley during a city press briefing Friday afternoon. "Let's face it: We've been stuck at home for a long time, and as the weather gets nicer, it sure would be nice to safely enjoy some of our great restaurants outside."

The list of streets for now includes:

Full Closures:

• 15^th Street between Vine and Republic, Republic and Race, Race and Pleasant
• 14^th Street between Vine and Republic, Republic and Race
• 13^th Street between Vine and Republic
• Freedom Way between Vine and Joe Nuxhall, Vine and Race
• Joe Nuxhall between 2^nd and Freedom Way
• Campbell Alley between Findlay and W. Elder

Partial Lane Closures:

• Race Street between Elder and Findlay, Court and 9^th, 6^th and 5^th
• Vine Street between 15^th and Central Parkway
• Walnut Street between 14^th and Mercer St.
• Walnut Street between 12^th and 13^th
• Clay Street between 14^th and Liberty, 13^th and 12^th
• Main Street between 12^th and Central Parkway
• Broadway between 13^th and 12^th
• 8^th Street between Sycamore and Main
• 7^th Street between Walnut and Main

Restaurants taking advantage of the expanded outdoor areas will have to maintain physical distancing and comply with all health standards.

3CDC worked with the city on the plan for Downtown and OTR.

Restaurants seem happy with the proposal, especially those who lack outdoor space or have small dining areas.

"We have a patio, it will extend our patio, giving us - I don't know how many more seats - but enough that it will make a big difference for everybody," said Jeremy Lieb, who owns Sacred Beast Diner at the corner of 15^th and Vine.

"Having this opportunity to expand, we don't have any outdoor seating currently, so having this opportunity is going to really help us be able to serve the community," said Julia Petiprin, who co-owns Homemakers Bar on E. 13^th Street.

Cranley said the street closing can be extended into city neighborhoods.  He said there's "room for everybody."

If you have a restaurant or live in a community where the plan might work, you're asked to email Kelly Carr in the city manager's office at Kelly.Carr@Cincinnati-oh.gov.