Spring is right around the corner, and Ohio is starting to turn the corner on the pandemic. Ohioans have a desperate need to socialize in person and Ohio’s communities are preparing to help their residents and visitors do that safely.
While state and federal officials warn that we may not be completely back to normal this summer or fall, allowing outdoor dining and outdoor activities with alcohol will be two important ways to return to “before times” activities.
Many Ohio cities issued outdoor-dining permits in 2020 and expedited the review process. Restaurants around the state are beginning to renew or apply for outdoor seating permits right now and some cities are waiving permit fees. In Columbus, nine restaurants have already applied for the temporary use of city streets or alleys and private parking lots. Cities like Barberton and Cincinnati shut down portions of streets and government owned parking spaces or lots throughout the summer of 2020 to allow for dining. Some cities only closed parking spots or streets on the weekends while others converted parking spaces and lots for the summer. We expect even more cities to set up outdoor dining areas in summer 2021.
In 2020, a number of communities across the state contemplated establishing designated outdoor refreshment areas (DORAs) in 2020 and we expect more DORA districts to be created in 2021. A DORA district allows for alcohol consumption outdoors, within a clearly marked geography. This helpful document from the Ohio Department of Commerce explains how to set up a DORA. Some cities, like Defiance, had DORAs in place before the pandemic, other cities, like Oxford, established theirs in 2020. DORAs have been an important tool to generating revenue for hard-hit restaurants, bars, and small businesses. In Tiffin, restaurants and bars report increased sales of 5%-20% as a result of its DORA.
As Ohio continues to return to normalcy, individual communities can help expedite that return by offering outdoor areas for eating and socializing.