Business
Outdoor cafes could open in La Crosse by next week
It might not take long for La Crosse businesses to start setting up ‘outdoor cafes.’
The city council approved the outdoor option at a special meeting Thursday night, so restaurants and other businesses could try to attract more customers right away.
Council member Gary Padesky says it’s possible City Hall could approve permits for cafe plans at a board of public works meeting on Monday.
The idea of outdoor cafe space is to enlarge the space which can be used by customers to help social distancing.
Padesky believes bars would not be allowed to have ‘beer garden’ areas for customers to stand around, but would be able to serve people sitting down.
Restaurant dining on the street is intended to stimulate businesses which have not seen many indoor customers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Padesky says the project might allow 3 or 4 businesses on one block to operate on a closed street during evening hours.
The outdoor cafe project is scheduled to last into early November.