KEEPING THE TABLES TURNING

Strategies for Repurposing Outdoor Space for Restaurants in COVID-19

Keep the Tables Turning 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

starters sides HEALTH & SAFETY 6 PROMOTION 22

mains dessert YOUR RESTAURANT 9 DINING STREETS 25

Building 10 Strip Mall 15 EVENTS 26 Patio Freestanding Seating 11 Building 16 Parking Drive-Thru extras Areas 12 Market 17 YOUR PARTNERS 28 Storefront 13 Pick-up 18 GETTING STARTED 29 Parklets & Comfort RESOURCES 30 Sidewalks 14 Station 19 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 31 APPENDIX: BUILD-IT OUTDOOR CHECKLIST 20

Keep the Tables Turning 2 Purpose

INTRODUCTION Keeping the Tables Turning is a playbook of been underserved by financial institutions strategies for restaurant owners to support and lack access to resources and capital. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting adapting their business models to changing Reimagining dining spaces is part of Uber’s public health measures have changed daily conditions. The playbook provides health commitment, along with financial support, life as we know it. For many restaurants and safety guidance from experts, ideas marketing, education, and promotions, across the nation, the COVID-19 pandemic on how to re-organize indoor and outdoor and will culminate in a series of winterized has resulted in significant and lasting space to support socially distant dining outdoor dining pilots in a number of cities damage, with mounting personal, financial, activities, and guidance on implementing across the country, beginning in Harlem in and community losses. Restaurants are marketing initiatives, programs, and events. November 2020. central to the cultural and social vitality of cities, yet the pandemic continues to METHODOLOGY These types of pilots and outdoor dining challenge the ability of many beloved experiences not only strengthen the financial dining institutions, small businesses, and The production and compilation of this work health of restaurants during a difficult time; entrepreneurs to reach customers, maintain was based on a review of best practices for they reaffirm the value of cities as places of revenue, and stay in business. healthy, safe, and socially distant outdoor public gathering where entrepreneurship, dining around the country and was informed creativity, and most importantly, food, While these losses have been acute, one of by interviews with real restaurant owners celebrate civic and cultural identity. the ways city leaders, business associations, and industry experts. Production was led industry advocates, and restaurants have by WXY architecture + urban design in come together and adapted to these partnership with Uber Eats and was based circumstances is by embracing outdoor on insights from the small business advocacy dining. Restaurants and their partners group Brooklyn Level Up, Harlem Park to have gotten creative, with new custom- Park, ValIncPR, and EatOkra (a black-owned built designs, converted parking lots, pick- restaurant guide). up areas, and events. From a parking lot converted to a drive-in restaurant to the The development of the playbook grew out reinvention of Main Street as Restaurant of a national campaign and commitment Row, outdoor dining has demonstrated by Uber Eats to support black-owned the resiliency and ingenuity of restaurants businesses. The impact of the pandemic to remain places of civic gathering and has been felt particularly hard by minority- community healing. owned restaurants, which have traditionally

Keep the Tables Turning 3 Goals & Structure

starters mains sides dessert extras What are the How can your How can you How can you Everything else best practices restaurant promote and work with your but the kitchen for prioritizing rethink its activate your neighbors (and sink. health & safety? outdoor spaces? business? city halls)?

Keep the Tables Turning is structured as a 1. Promote creative strategies for 4. Offer a menu of ideas for restaurant menu of ideas, options, and strategies to restaurants to take advantage of their operators on how to promote, market, guide restaurants, business associations exterior spaces and activate their restaurant during and policymakers as they navigate the 2. Illustrate key principles of health and (and after) the pandemic options and the opportunities for outdoor safety to protect against COVID-19 5. Provide best practices for policymakers dining. Not every restaurant is alike, but the and city leaders to set up consistent, playbook tries to capture the challenges 3. Demonstrate how restaurants can connect to key partners, advocates, and effective, and streamlined outdoor faced by businesses (and cities) large and dining policies small. The following six goals guided this policymakers to support them in their effort: efforts

Keep the Tables Turning 4 starters

Keep the Tables Turning 5 HEALTH & SAFETY

How to Stay Healthy

Based on guidance from the CDC, the close contact with one another, particularly with employees, affiliates and customers principal mode by which people are infected indoors, in places with poor ventilation, to reinforce behaviors that lessen the risk with COVID-19 is through exposure to and in crowded spaces. There are many for everyone. (Source: CDC Guidance for respiratory droplets carrying the virus. The behavioral changes that greatly reduce Restaurants and Bars) risk of spread is highest when people are in the risk of spread. Businesses should work

Cleaning & Health & Personal Protective Sanitation Personal Hygiene Equipment

HAND HAND WASHING BASIC HYGIENE PROVIDE FACE SANITIZER thoroughly for at employees should MASKS at entry & least 20 seconds avoid touching of various pick-up points is the best means their face and sizes for and high-touch of sanitization wear masks at all employees areas times & delivery associates

DISINFECT STAY HOME TEMP CHECK PROVIDE HAND high-touch require conduct staff SANITIZER areas & shared employees to and customer items with EPA stay home if temperature checks for disinfection they are sick or employees, criteria exposed customers, & delivery associates AVOID SHARING ROTATE MONITOR LOCAL GUIDANCE self-service rotate or stations, stagger shifts to check your local condiments, encourage social public health menus, pens, distancing department for utensils, etc. updates regularly including customer contact tracing Keep the Tables Turning guidance Starters 6 HEALTH & SAFETY

Entry protocols

PLEASE Use clear and visible signs to WAIT HERE indicate: capacity, protocols, Keep Your 6’ changes in business hours, including dining time Define spaces for 25% restrictions. Use floor decals, patrons to wait with visible ground markings Maximum painting, or tape and signs to direct customers. Check Capacity temperatures upon entry and use QR codes for contact tracing where required.

Maintain a Healthy Space

There are many operational, spatial and physical changes that contribute to a safer restaurant environment and help to reinforce behaviors that limit the spread of COVID-19. Ventilate Your Consult the Experts Space

Public health guidance changes regularly. Check HVAC systems Make sure you know where to get up-to- regularly and increase date information. Reference your local outdoor air circulation requirements along with guidance from as much as possible by the Centers for Disease Control and opening windows and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, using fans and the Occupational Safety and Health Pick-up & To-Go Administration for the most current guidance Designate a pick up area related to food safety and interacting with inside or outside the store. diners. Encourage contactless pick-ups and deliveries Keep the Tables Turning Starters 7 mains

Keep the Tables Turning 8 YOUR RESTAURANT

The Block The Strip The Island

City Blocks, Main Streets, Strip Malls, Markets, Freestanding with Parking, Business Districts Motor Courts Highway Restaurants See pages 10-14, 18-19 See pages 11-12, 15-19 See pages 11-12, 16-19

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 9 BUILDING Exclusive spaces a restaurant has access (Michelin) Star to can offer unique opportunities for Gazing contactless ordering and pick-ups and dine- in experiences. Consider how your patrons Check your local move safely from shared spaces to exclusive regulations on rules for dining spaces. rooftop dining. Create a tented, heated space for stargazing diners.

“Parklets” & Patio Seating Sidewalk Cafes Backyard and patio spaces can provide an Many cities have opportunity to invite adopted outdoor diners into a more dining guidelines intimate and controlled that waive environment. Many traditional fees for cities have more sidewalk cafes and relaxed regulations for allow restaurants heating patio spaces. to convert curbside parking to dining. Mulling over the Long Wait As the colder months arrive, consider having hot drinks like mulled wine, hot toddies, cider, or hot chocolate available for waiting guests. Keep the Tables Turning Mains 10 PATIO SEATING For many restaurants, the back patio has gone from a nice-to-have to a critical lifeline. Flexible Seating Backyards, roofs, and patios open the potential to have a completely new dining Consider a patio layout experience in an intimate, warm, and garden and design that is modular like setting. and flexible, allowing for quick adjustments as regulations and needs change.

Patio Coverage

Canvas awnings, catenary lights, and translucent tent structures can help create a winterized, light-filled experience in the backyard or restaurant patio. For cold and snowy conditions, ensure that patio structures can be easily disassembled and can handle snow loads.

Space Heaters

Ensure a proper distribution and should be stored safely and in number of space heaters with compliance with local regulations. sufficient coverage and placement Check your local fire department to keep diners warm. Work with an regulations for information on electrician to project electricity costs storage of electric and propane Keep the Tables Turning and local grid capacity. Heaters heaters. Mains 11 PARKING AREAS Parking spaces adjacent to restaurants provide a much needed, flexible space for outdoor dining and other activities. Balance My Spot your need for curbside pick-up with a lively and flexible parking lot dining setup. While many jurisdictions do not require permits for converting parking spaces to outdoor dining areas on private property, some require authorization A Sense of Enclosure for for outdoor alcohol consumption. Parking lots often feel exposed and open to the elements, including surrounding noise and traffic. Work with property owners to identify non-handicapped spaces adjacent to the restaurant and use design elements such as planters and tents to establish a sense of enclosure and protection.

Plex & Flex 144 SF Use plexiglass and other flexible dividers to create intimate dining booths that foster public safety while creating a more intimate 18’ setting.

8’

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 12 To-Go Window Face-out Super Graphics STOREFRONT Retrofit street facing Rethink how window Integrate social Reorient your business to face outward as windows to create a to- displays speak to distancing rules into opposed to inward by adopting creative go window for coffee, passersby and work captivating exterior storefront signage, branding, graphics, and drinks, and eats. with your team to graphics to make sure interior design. Leverage in-house talent create a unique and your customers are or work with local artists and designers to Check to see if local outward-facing set of paying attention to create a strong sense of identity both during regulations allow for displays. Find creative the important stuff. the day and at night. sidewak seating with ways of making your sufficient space. menu face outward.

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 13 Ambiance Use lighting, heaters, and bluetooth speakers to interiorize the outdoor dining experience. Only use electric heaters on roadbeds and ensure Barriers safe storage procedures. Use 18” weighted perimeter 15’ barriers to separate diners from the road and reflectors to maintain visibility. Check local dining capacity regulations to see how open a winterized structure should be (i.e. 50- 70% open).

Platform 8’ To reduce tripping hazards, use a platform that raises the grade of the parklet to the sidewalk. Ensure that Structural Sidewalk Seating parklets are ADA • Use perimeter barriers to separate diners from the road compliant. • Reflectors to maintain visibility Take advantage of relaxed permits for sidewalk cafes to Experience expand your dining footprint. • Use barrier elements such as planters, ropes, and dividers to Ensure at least 8’ of clear PARKLETS & demarcate dining space from shared space walking space for pedestrians to • Incorporate plants, art, and other decorations that contribute to avoid conflicts and locate tables Table Partitions SIDEWALKS for two in narrower sidewalk ambiance Making use of shared spaces in curbside areas. Ensure that you account Table partitions are • Express your brand identity parking and on public sidewalks can greatly for trees, poles, fire hydrants (15’ opportunities to market your • Bluetooth speakers expand a restaurant’s dining capacity away), and bus stops. business with artwork, posters, and keep diners safe. There are several or fun quotes. considerations to keep in mind to ensure a pleasant experience for patrons at all times of year. Restaurant owners need to clearly indicate the changes in use of public spaces to reduce confusion or potential friction with pedestrians on the sidewalk.

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 14 Coordination is King Coordination and communication are the keys to a successful outdoor dining installation. Connect with neighboring businesses to alleviate parking concerns and adapt key spaces, such as corners to create an ideal dining area.

Nooks & Crannies Work with property owners to see if certain underutilized spaces or service areas can be converted for outdoor dining. Left-over spaces are often overlooked, but can sometimes provide a unique experience.

Shop ‘N Dine STRIP MALL Shared parking areas in strip malls and Work with non-restaurant businesses other shopping areas can present challenges to align goals and partner on events of coordination, but they also have that will create more business. significant opportunities for more flexible Consider flea and farmers markets as and customizable spaces. an opportunity for off-peak activities.

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 15 Tenting

Use large tents to expand the building footprint into parking areas and host special events. Create unique seasonal experiences and don’t be afraid to take chances.

Pick-up

Clearly designate curbside pick- up points for to-go orders with ground markings and signage. Create a dedicated exterior space for hand-offs to diners FREESTANDING and couriers. Drive-thru BUILDING Create a drive-thru option (if Restaurants surrounded by parking or other there is not one already) or open spaces have plenty of opportunity to create new outward facing create outdoor dining, but need to work pick-up windows. harder to create a sense of enclosure for diners.

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 16 DRIVE-THRU MARKET Contactless pick-up and deliveries are a safe way to continue business. Consider the needs of multiple users: customers arriving to order food or pick up previously ordered food, and couriers and delivery people arriving by bike, scooter or car to deliver to customers. Pay attention to the unique needs of each user group in designing your pick-up experience.

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 17 PICK-UP A safe and efficient pick-up and delivery area benefits from simple signage, clear markings, and ample hand sanitizer. Demarcate space for those who called Parking Lot ahead along with couriers and drivers working hard to get food from A to B. Pick-up

Window / Vestibule Pick-up

Takeaway Choreography

Delineate specific spaces for pick-up and control the takeout process with clear signage, staff coordination, and self- evident policies. For high-volume pick- ups, create spaces for a centrally staffed outdoor food bag pick-up table.

The Vestibule Develop signage that encourages delivery people and patrons to practice For many restaurants, creating social distancing, discourage crowding, a safe waiting area requires and keep doors and passages open. some spatial ingenuity. Even with limited space, designate clear areas for pick-up, orders, and delivery drivers using bold signage, markings, and graphics. Keep the Tables Turning Mains 18 COMFORT STATION Restaurants with lots of take-out orders and deliveries may consider developing a dedicated area or window for customers and delivery people to wait for their orders.

Weatherize

Use awnings, heat lamps, and other features to keep couriers and customers out of the snow, rain, sleet, and hail.

Streamline

Clearly delineate waiting zones and pick-up flows for customers and couriers. Whenever possible, create an intuitive pick-up system for orders going out for delivery separate from outdoor dining areas to keep operations running smooth.

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 19 OUTDOOR CHECKLIST

Weatherization Structural Safety, Security, ☐ Construct structures to withstand wind, ☐ Stay ADA compliant by widening Cleaning & Sanitation rain, and snow loads entrances, using ramps or platforms to Clean outdoor spaces regularly mitigate grade changes ☐ Have a plan in place for pest Choose efficient, reusable and ☐ ☐ management; keep trash bins separated Plan for rainfall sustainable materials that can be from diners Pitch roof to angle drainage away from repurposed in the future and are easy to ☐ Secure down moveable items overnight diners clean ☐ Work with local leaders to help manage Elevate dining platform above the ☐ Larger structures may trigger additional ☐ ☐ and oversee space off-hours roadbed permitting restrictions ☐ Consider drainage to avoid pooling and puddling

Plan for heating elements in compliance with local regulation Electrical Experiential ☐ Electric heaters for roadways and sidewalks ☐ Dedicate a circuit for outdoor electrical ☐ Clearly demarcate restaurant dining ☐ Propane heaters may be subject to rules features space from shared spaces (sidewalk, street, and parking lot) and regulations, as well as safe storage ☐ Arrange and secure cords to reduce tripping hazards ☐ Coordinate with delivery operations to ensure that couriers and drivers have a Enclose outdoor spaces while keeping ☐ Only use outdoor rated appliances clear pick-up point and waiting area ventilation and air flow ☐ Consider installing an outdoor utility ☐ Incorporate low-maintenance plants, art, ☐ Removable panels/windows/plexiglass connection and other decorations ☐ Express your brand identity ☐ Consider music and bluetooth speakers

Keep the Tables Turning Mains 20 sides

Keep the Tables Turning 21 PROMOTION

Marketing & Promotion

Even if your customers can’t physically Work across digital platforms, develop outdoor dining and events are your lifeline; eat in your restaurant, there are lots of partnerships with chefs, influencers, and delivery apps are your partners. Make ways of keeping people engaged, excited, and mixologists, and discover your inner the most of a difficult time by extending your and hungry for what you have to offer. extrovert. Food photography is your friend; reach (and your menu) digitally.

Signage Digital Partnership / Civic

HOURS WEB PRESENCE DIGITAL MENUS COLLABORATE WITH QR CODES WITH CHEFS & post your most online ordering, MIXOLOGISTS up-to-date invest in food display QR code business hours photography, that can be Food & drink and capacity food descriptions scanned requirements

SIGNAGE SOCIAL MEDIA DELIVERY APPS FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION “We’re Open” work with third to communicate POINTS “Back in hours, specials, party delivery Business” events, etc. services to Donate food to run targeted food pantries marketing (highly needed) campaigns to drive demand

SIGNAGE PROMOS & CATERING FOR TARGETED ESSENTIAL Indicate MARKETING WORKERS outdoor dining discounts/ pickup/carside coupons, target waiting areas audience

Keep the Tables Turning Sides 22 dessert

Keep the Tables Turning 23 DINING STREETS

Keep the Tables Turning Dessert 24 DINING STREETS

Outdoor dining doesn’t have to be limited to one restaurant or property. In areas where there is Igloos & Dining Yurts limited sidewalk and curb space, restaurants can work with local business associations and city leaders Eating outside in the cold should to create an outdoor dining street. Be sure to work be an adventure. Nothing says with participating restaurants to set clear safety adventure liking drinking hot protocols based on local public health guidance. toddies in a yurt in January.

Parking Lot Plaza

Work to identify parking lots and plazas that could function as a central gathering space to support businesses along a corridor. Municipal parking lots often host farmers markets and can be repurposed as dining areas. If you have your own parking lot, check your local regulations to see if you need to submit a permit application and confirm that you don’t need approval for Gateway Signs alcohol consumption. Create clear signage describing hours of operation, how the street works and what the health and safety protocols are.

Keep the Tables Turning Dessert 25 EVENTS

Partner with neighboring restaurants to stage socially Night at the Drive-in distant events that combine dining with entertainment. Convert parking spaces into a drive-in theater for movie night. (Igloos and roller skates optional).

Farmers’ Markets Drive-thru Event Set up markets and tasting Promote local business and events that give people a restaurants with coupons chance to sample multiple and promotions that support restaurants at the same time. combined outdoor pick-up.

Keep the Tables Turning Dessert 26 extras YOUR PARTNERS

Restaurant Policymakers Owners Support restaurants in their efforts to stand up Restauranteurs are the star outdoor dining options of this show. It’s time to get by streamlining permit creative and start buildling processes. Consider partnerships. Reach out to instituting self-certification your local merchants groups processes and publish clear and restaurant association to and consistent guidelines coordinate on strategy and for outdoor dining design make a plan. Stay up-to date and public health and with local regulations and safety protocols. Find ways federal guidance so that your to support restaurants investments do not fall out of that lack outdoor space compliance. by creating programs and socially distant events to help spur business.

Good partnerships are Business the critical ingredient of Associations a successful restaurant recovery. For businesses Advocate for dining streets and to stay afloat, restaurants, outdoor dining campaigns. Work city policymakers, business with third party delivery services associations, and the to launch local marketing community at large campaigns in their apps. all need to be aligned. Supp ork Help restaurants get the right ort Netw Communication should be resources they need to stay open, consistent, early and often. including COVID relief state and federal funding.

Keep the Tables Turning Extras 28 GETTING STARTED

Know the Rules: An effective outdoor dining Self-certification and clear city program begins with the right guidelines for health and design 1 Consult your local regulations that enable restaurants are a must. Publish basic diagrams regulations to take advantage of sidewalk and describing your rules and spread curbside space while maximizing them far and wide. safety.

Develop Promote & Design & Build 2 Partnerships 3 4 Program

Identify a project coordinator to Partner with local architecture Work with business associations develop and maintain relationships or design/build teams who can and partner restaurants to develop with local businesses, city officials, develop sustainable designs corridor-wide strategies that will and city regulators and manages the that take business needs into help drive business across a full design, construction, and approvals consideration and are in adherence calendar. processes. with all public health guidelines and city regulations. Work across property lines and Collaborate with a community- parking lot lines to create inventive based partner with close ties to local Use a parklet design template programming that will drive entrepreneurial communities to lead (see Appendix A) and hire local customers to your area. Socially development of programing and contractors who can help you build distant events, like drive-ins, drive- marketing campaigns that resonate and modify spaces quickly. Nothing thrus, and festivals can keep your with local communities. is more important than a great neighborhood vibrant and bring the contractor who can get things done whole community together. Talk to your neighbors, your landlord, quickly and on budget. community associations, and your Collaborate with third party delivery fellow restaurants. The more people Bring the ambience of your services to launch marketing that get involved early, the better! restaurant into your outdoor dining campaigns that increase orders and space. Create a feeling of enclosure generate new customers. Consider and safety that gives your customers designing your campaign around a a completely new outdoor dining specific holiday or event. Keep the Tables Turning experience. Extras 29 RESOURCES

Health & Safety Outdoor Dining Regulations Design Guidance

• National Restaurant Association, • American Society of Landscape • MASS Design Group, Spatial Strategies COVID-19 Safe Operating Guidance: Architects / REBAR, The Park(ing) Day for Restaurants in Response to A Guide for the Restaurant Industry, Manual: A Primer on User-Generated COVID-19, May 2020 October 2020 Urbanism and Temporary Tactics for Improving the Public Realm, 2011 • NACTO, Streets for Pandemic Response • National Restaurant Association, & Recovery, June 2020 COVID-19 Reopening Guidance: A Guide • Better Block, Parklet Guide, 2020 for the Restaurant Industry, April 2020 • NYC DOT, Open Streets: Restaurants, • City of Boston, Tactical Public Realm 2020 • FDA, Best Practices for Re-Opening Guidelines, 2018 Retail Food Establishments During the • City of Detroit, Open Detroit, June 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic (Food Safety • City of Washington, D.C., Reimagining Checklist), 2020 Outdoor Space: Restaurants and Retail, • Parkade, Complete guide to parklets & 2020 streeteries, 2020 • FDA / OSHA, Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist, 2020 • City of Washington, D.C., Public Space • City of Santa Monica, Temporary Activation & Stewardship Guide, Outdoor Activity: Tactical Parklet • OSHA, Guidance on Preparing September 2018 Manual, August 2020 Workplaces for COVID-19, 2020 • City of Baltimore, Design for Distancing • City of Seattle DOT, Parklet Handbook, • CDC, Considerations for Restaurants Ideas Guidebook, June 2020 2017 and Bars, October 2020 • City of Melbourne, Australia, Extended • City of San Francisco, San Francisco • NYS DOH, Interim Guidance for Food Outdoor Dining Guidelines, 2020 Parklet Manual, Summer 2020 Services During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, November 2020 • Seattle & King County Department of • City of San Francisco, Shared Spaces Public Health, Healthy Business Streets: Design Guidelines, October 2020 • NYC Fire Department Bureau of Fire Guidance for temporary changes to Prevention, Fire Department Guidance: business district street design and use • UCLA Complete Streets Initiative, Comfort Heating of Restaurant Patrons for COVID-19 response and recovery, Reclaiming the Right-of-Way: a Toolkit in Outdoor Dining Areas, 2020 August 2020 for Creating and Implementing Parklets, September 2012

Keep the Tables Turning Extras 30 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This Playbook was compiled by WXY Project Sponsor architecture + urban design in partnership UberEats Numerous restaurants provided direct input with Uber Eats. Insights for the Playbook in the form of long interviews and in-depth were provided by EatOkra and Harlem Park Project Team surveys. These restaurants include: to Park in tandem with the development WXY architecture + urban design of a Harlem-based outdoor dining pilot Brooklyn Level Up Suede Restaurant in November 2020. Brooklyn LevelUp 5610 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn, NY conducted interviews wth restaurants and Project Partners businesses and contributed to the overall EatOkra Footprints Cafe themes and review of the work. Harlem Park to Park 1377 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY ValincPR Lips Cafe 1412 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY

StephLova’s Cafe 952 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Tropical Paradise 1252 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Keep the Tables Turning Extras 31