Want To Dine Outside? Not In Ambridge Law Says
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Restaurant owners are trying to change a law banning outside eating in one Pennsylvania town.
On a beautiful day, scores of diners enjoy outside eating in Market Square with more outside tables than ever.
Why? Because it's so popular.
"I would definitely choose a restaurant that has outdoor dining just cause of the experience you can get from being outside," says Emily Darr of Beaver Falls.
But don't look for outside dining everywhere, including Ambridge where it is banned.
"Outdoor dining is prohibited," Ambridge borough manager Joe Kauer told KDKA money editor Jon Delano on Tuesday.
That's what Katherine and Bill Barlamas found out 30 years ago when they tried to get outside dining at Alexander's, their restaurant on Merchant Street.
"So I decided if I'm going to compete in the restaurant business, I've got to go upscale and become a destination," said Barlamas.
Ambridge turned him down, but that could change soon.
"There is interest," says Kauer. "There's a lot of new restaurants, by a lot, I mean there's been a couple actually that want to come here and expand."
Ambridge Council is expected to vote shortly on an ordinance to allow outside dining.
The newly opened Bridgetown Taphouse is one of those restaurants interested in that.
"Having outdoor dining available would be incredible for what we're doing here," says Matt Salopek, co-owner of Bridgetown.
"We're on a main street here in Ambridge, a lot of traffic, a lot of visibility, so it would be nice to have something outside for sure."
"It's definitely just a more inviting look, I think," adds Cortney Pazzanita at the Tick Tock Bar & Cafe.
Pazzanita, whose café is now under renovation, says it could create a new image for Ambridge, just as Market Square has done Downtown.
"One by one, a lot of businesses are changing that, so to have people outside and for people to drive by and see that, it's exciting," Pazzanita adds.
While there are certainly those in Ambridge who feel that ordinances like this that would allow outdoor dining would help to revitalize, bring back, Ambridge, there are also others who would not appear on camera who feel this is too little too late.
Still, a few like Stangl's Bakery have already put a table and chair out front and hope Ambridge will legalize serving them.
"It makes the town look lived in. It brings a sense of community to the town that needs it a lot right now," says Lorianne Stangl Burgess, the bakery's owner.
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