City of Lafayette Offering Expanded Downtown Dining Space

Friday is the first day the city of Lafayette is offering an expanded downtown dining space.

Two local businesses owner in partnership with Friends of downtown and the city came up with the idea.

And weekends.

I talked with organizers of the fresh air eats initiative.

They hope this new experience will encourage more people to eat and shop local.

(nats( picinic tables are now filling the streets in downtown lafayette.

"once we came up with the idea and we started talking to all the other downtown businesses and that includes retail shops everybody embraces it."- steve bultinck stand up: "when you walk through dowtown lafayette, you can't help but see these signs posted everywhere advertising the many events and restaurants people can enjoy.

But due to covid-9, (nat( all of those events have been canceled, but now the city is partnering with local restaurants to help them through this tough time."

"some of the restaurants don't have outdoor dining at all.

That's the number on thing that we are hearing from the guests right now is that they feel more comfortable outside so this will really help."- scott trzaskus that's why the downtown community worked with the city of lafayette to create the fresh air eats initiative.

It allows restaurants and bars to have seating on the streets by closing down parts of main street."

"even though there is 75 percent capacity according to the state most folks don't have the square footage to be able to achieve that."-greg emig and while the expanded seating will help local businesses (nats( it's also a safer way for locals to enjoy what downtown has to offer.

"it's going to be totally safe..

We are meeting all the guidlines that have been laid out by the cdc.

"-steve bultinck "this isn't an event this isn't about replacing a mosy this is simply about safer dining options."- scott trzaskus fresh air eats will run on friday nights from 4 to 10 pm; saturdays, 9 am to 10 pm; and sundays, 9 am to 9 pm.

The intiative will continue every weekend until october 4th.

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