A pandemic-era outdoor dining program credited with helping Los Angeles restaurants survive at a time when so many have closed or are struggling was set to expire at the end of the year, potentially leaving hundreds of restaurateurs in the area Let it float.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a one-year extension of the Al Fresco Temporary Authorization initiative. The program allows eating and drinking establishments within Los Angeles city limits to continue operating in outdoor spaces established during the pandemic.
“This extension is a remarkable win for everyone — in both the public and private sectors — who have struggled with red tape,” said Eddie Navarrette, executive director of the Independent Hospitality Coalition, a group that advocates for and promotes independent hospitality supports restaurants
Navarette described the mayor's one-year pardon as “generous” and hopes it gives city officials the opportunity to make improvements to the application process, which he and other restaurant operators say can be confusing and cumbersome.
This is the second time the program – which was originally scheduled to expire in July – has been thrown on a lifeline. After an outcry from city restaurateurs, Bass extended the program a day before sunset. The extension gave restaurant owners more time to apply for the permanent al fresco program, which the City Council approved about a year ago with the application process opening in February.
But that first extension simply wasn't enough for most restaurants, said Navarette, who has helped several restaurants apply for various permits over the years. He argued that the program needs to be less complicated so that restaurant owners don't have to spend money to hire a specialist – like him – to handle the lengthy application process.
Restaurateurs were also upset that the city didn't meet the same deadline set at the state level when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bill AB 1217, which extended outdoor dining and other pandemic-era regulations until July 2026 .
Christian Frizzell, owner of Redwood Bar & Grill, a downtown Los Angeles staple that has been revitalized as a pirate-themed pub since the 1930s, was among the first to apply for the outdoor dining program. During the pandemic, he spent more than $30,000 building outdoor seating, which now accounts for 10% to 20% of his sales.
Those are sales Frizzell said he couldn't afford to lose. He said he understood the city's primary concern was the safety of the public, but the process was so “frustrating,” he explained, that he had to hire Navarrette as a consultant.
“Everything is so tight right now, with prices and inflation,” he said of his fight to keep the Redwood open. “And the workforce has increased so much. So many have moved from downtown.”
It's a difficult time for restaurant owners across the industry, although new venues with big ambitions continue to open. Higher labor costs, increased food prices and the fallout from the pandemic have forced many L.A.-area restaurants — at least 65 last year — to close their doors. Restaurant operators continue to go out of business, restaurants continue to close.
In a statement, Bass said more than $1 million in funding will be made available to support restaurants and provide permit fee relief as the city transitions from the temporary to permanent program.
“Thousands of businesses have been helped this year to make City Hall an advocate for business, not an obstacle,” Bass said. “That’s why we’re extending the deadline for the Al Fresco Outdoor Dining Program – because we need to support businesses and help them succeed.”
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