(KNSI) – Some restaurants and bars in downtown St. Cloud will soon start setting up tables and chairs outside on 5th Avenue as the city of St. Cloud authorizes that outdoor dining space for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are getting ready to build an outdoor entertainment venue that will serve the bars and restaurants and sandwich shops on 5th,” said Ray Harrington, owner of Pioneer Place on 5th and 7 West Taphouse.
Right now, barricades block off the section of 5th Avenue between West St. Germain Street and 1st Street South in St. Cloud. Harrington says the neighboring businesses will start setting up the outdoor dining space on Monday.
Harrington anticipates that the outdoor space between the eateries will open for patrons next weekend, but that depends on how long the set-up takes.
“We’re going to talk to all the downtown businesses and are working together on-site next week and see how it’s going, what kind of flow we’re getting on the project and try to determine then when we should all do a grand opening together.”
Health officials have said during the COVID-19 pandemic that viral transmission is less likely in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings. Under Minnesota’s current COVID-19 mitigation rules, outdoor dining spaces must ensure that six feet of distance can be maintained between parties at all times, up to a maximum of 250 people.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!