On July 9 the city of La Mesa issued an executive order to allow the use of public outdoor areas for dining. On July 16 it expanded allowable outdoor business activities in an attempt to assist businesses that are able and want to move operations outside.
As of July 31, 11 applications had been received, 10 restaurants and one business, with two approved, according to Mary England, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce CEO, and city of La Mesa Director of Community Development Kerry Kusiak.
England said since the riots on May 30-31 which led to widespread damage and looting at the La Mesa Springs Shopping Center, the Chamber is now dealing with many businesses in the area, whether damaged by the riots or trying to survive during the pandemic.
The application process includes applications for restaurants and businesses that want to move their business to an outdoor setting and require authorization as well as understanding the regulations and insurance requirements.
General liability insurance with limits not less than $1 million for bodily insurance and property damage, $1 million for personal and advertising injury, and $2 million products and completed operations aggregate, and $2 million general aggregate. Also required is liquor liability insurance, $1 million per occurrence and $2 million for bodily insurance and property damage if alcoholic beverages are to be sold, served or furnished.
Kusiak said the city does not know how much this insurance costs for outdoor dining and that the forms they get only provide the level of coverage. He added that these permits are not only for businesses whose open spaces are on city sidewalks and parking areas.
“For the folks on private property, our code does not allow outdoor uses typically, so even the folks on private property are coming to us to set up outside,” he said. “They should be, not all of them are doing it.”
Kusiak said the applications will be open as long as people have difficulty conducting business indoors.
“As long as the executive order of the director of emergency and disaster remains in place, we will follow through,” he said. “My guess is at the time that we start wrapping it up, we’ll provide some level of buffer for people to break it down and get back to normal, which hopefully isn’t too far into the future.”
England said that seems like very few applications.
“I looked at the application process and for a mom and pop business, it is overwhelming,” said England. “The restaurants in the village, where would they expand to be in the public right of way? Are they going to take the metered parking? That is not going to look very nice because you really need some square footage.”
England said many businesses have chosen not to open at all because it is not cost effective.
“Do the math,” she said. “How much does it cost, how many times can they turn that table and how much does it cost to buy the food, prepare the food and hope that people will come and fill those seats? It is a real crap shoot for these businesses and that is why some are not interested in expanding because once the expense in incurred they are not sure if they can serve.”
England said there are some businesses in the area taking advantage of the extended outdoor dining, and doing it well, but for the majority of businesses, it is take-out that is getting them through the pandemic.
“I think I find that a lot of people, because of COVID, are not wanting to cook, so they are doing take out,” said England. “Because of COVID and masks not everybody is comfortable dining out in a parking lot, with a tent or otherwise, but they will take their food to go. With Grubhub and the other delivery services, food is flying out the doors, but people are not dining in anymore. Because even at six feet apart, you do not know who you are going to be exposed to.”
England said Hooleys Public House at Grossmont Center “took the jump,” working with the management of Grossmont Center and that bringing in Chicken Charlie’s to the mall was a smart move. Kusiak said Hooleys was one of the businesses that sent in an application.
“I had brunch out there. They put out tents, foliage, and offered an alternative out there,” she said. “They are doing that to stay open. I think that it is commendable that they like everybody, they are thinking outside of the box now. I did not feel like I was in an outside dining area. ”
She said in The Village, restaurants like the Farmer’s Table, Por Favor, and Johnny B’s Burgers Brews & Spirits already had outdoor seating and are utilizing it or expanding it further, depending on the property.
She added that Anthony’s Fish Grotto was also doing well, as it has a large outdoor area and people can go dine by the lake.
England said she took a trip to El Cajon to see and try the new Texas Roadhouse at Parkway Plaza.
“They took over their entire front parking lot. They put up a large tent, have tables, placed hay around and it is huge,” she said. “They probably can seat around 50 people. It is packed, the food is reasonable, you do a call ahead. As I was watching, people were coming out of their cars and it was like they were going to Disneyland.”
Other than Hooleys, England said she is not seeing the same in La Mesa.
She said businesses have been hit hard and has not personally seen any business utilizing city sidewalks or parking yet.
For more information about the application process visit www.cityoflamesa.us and click on the COVID-19 icon. For Chamber members open for outdoor dining, delivery or takeout visit www.lamesachamber.net/coronavirus-updates.
