Roads Close In Fells Point Thursday, Canton Friday To Allow For Outdoor Dining
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- For roughly the next two months, drivers in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood will see some road closures to allow for more outdoor dining amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Beginning Thursday, southbound Thames Street from southbound Broadway to the west side of the Sagamore Pendry Hotel and northbound Broadway between Thames and Lancaster streets are closed for outdoor dining, the city said. The closures will last through September 7.
Parking restrictions will also be in effect in the area.
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A loading zone will be set up in the 800 block of South Broadway north of Shakespeare Street for delivery vehicles and carry-out pickup parking. This zone will also be available for market vendor parking on Saturdays between 5:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Several roads in Canton will be closed from Friday to Sunday between noon and 10 p.m. for outdoor dining, including O'Donnell Street between Linwood and Potomac streets and Curley Street from O'Donnell Street to the alleys on either side.
Curb lanes will also be closed on South Linwood Street between Elliot and Dillon streets and South Potomac Street between O'Donnell and Dillon streets.
Restaurants in the city said the closures are bringing in more businesses.
"Each day we get more and more people," Manuel Pritt, a bartender at Fells Point Tavern, said.
Brina Furman, at Max's Tavern, said this allows them to go from four tables to 20.
"I think this is really great, it's a great thing for the neighborhood, as well as the businesses," Furman said. "It's a great compromise in between. We've gotten a lot of foot traffic, people are able to sit and enjoy the outdoors."
Restaurants have been hit hard by the pandemic, forcing some to close or switch to carryout only, drastically cutting sales.
Some hope outdoor dining will help improve business.
"I was very proud of the Fells Point family for coming out and volunteering to build tables and taking that initiative," said resident Alexis Funari.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
