In an effort to balance public health concerns and a business community struggling to cope with the County Health Order COVID-19 restrictions, the City of Manhattan Beach has repurposed outdoor dining areas as public seating areas to encourage patrons to support the local business community while providing a socially distant and safe place to relax and enjoy the holiday shopping experience. The public can now use spaces previously allocated for outdoor dining and retail areas during the pandemic. People using these areas must still comply with all of the County’s revised protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing and not gathering with anyone outside of your immediate household.
“Our business community is struggling to survive the County’s latest restrictions and the City has a win-win solution to help, while safeguarding public health,” said Mayor Suzanne Hadley. “Additional public seating areas will strike this balance and repurpose public areas that temporarily can’t be used for outdoor dining because of the County’s restrictions.”
Consistent with the County’s temporary orders, restaurants are not permitted to serve customers indoors or outdoors, and are limited to takeout and delivery only. In addition, the public seating areas will have regulations consistent with public areas throughout the City. These include:
- No reservation of seating;
- Face coverings must be worn;
- Maintaining social distancing;
- No smoking or vaping;
- Must throw away trash in receptacles;
- No alcohol;
- No disorderly conduct or noise; and
- No littering or sleeping overnight.
Such areas will be closed from 10:00 PM – 7:30 AM. Users of the areas should sanitize tables after use. The City encourages the community to visit all local businesses and enjoy these public seating areas safely.
For accurate and up to date information about COVID-19, please visit the County Department of Public Health website, sign up for the City’s eNotifications and Nixle public safety alerts, and follow the City on Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, and Instagram.