Of all the things I love about Bellevue, I think the Pacific Northwest’s summer and fall seasons can outcompete nearly every other destination. With long summer daylight hours and mild weather well into the fall, it’s an incredible setting for outdoor fun. I especially love the changes in weather that allow you to dine al fresco in a t-shirt while having a summer salad and sparkling drink of your choice or don a sweater as you breathe the crisp air and enjoy fall appetizers and a hot beverage on a local patio. There is a certain magic to watching the world go by just past the edge of your table when you sip and dine outdoors.
Before the pandemic, outdoor dining opportunities in Bellevue were few and far between. This past year, however, that changed. Many businesses moved their serving space outside—out of necessity. Outdoor dining became an innovative and critically important adaptation for many establishments to comply with COVID-19 capacity restrictions. It helped us feel comfortable as customers in dining out again, and it showed that our businesses could safely continue to create community, vibrancy, and togetherness even during a global pandemic.
It reminded me not only how resilient our business community is in Bellevue and beyond, but also how much enjoyment the al fresco experience brings. Last year, over 80% of outdoor diners who took a Bellevue survey said they chose their restaurants specifically for the opportunity to dine outside. I think we all hope outdoor dining is something that survives well beyond the pandemic.
During the early days of navigating COVID-19, as a city we came together with our community and business partners to try to help Bellevue businesses adapt and continue to operate through the pandemic. We created dedicated takeout parking, supported technical assistance programs to help connect small businesses to financial relief, and facilitated outdoor business expansion options. I advocated with the Governor’s office to make outdoor permitting easier for our restaurants. In Bellevue, we used a variety of local government tools to accommodate expanded outdoor dining spaces on patios, sidewalks, and parking areas. We also worked to streamline the processes for businesses to more easily create that space, and we’ll continue doing that into the future.
I live in Downtown Bellevue and really enjoy seeing the unique outdoor dining spaces that have created an experience that feels inviting, lively and refreshingly normal in the face of everything we’ve gone through over the past year and a half. And because these spaces are so appealing, the community has come out in full force to support the concept, something that has been critical to the success of outdoor dining programs. In one of our recent economic development surveys, about one in three restaurant-goers reported that they made a purchase at a retailer while they were dining out on Main Street, where Bellevue restaurants worked with the city and other partners to implement an extensive outdoor dining program. And more than 80% of respondents said the patio areas made them more likely to visit Main Street again in the future.
The community’s support will continue to be necessary in our ongoing battle with the virus and beyond, as recovery for many businesses—especially independent shops—will extend years into the future. I am in awe of the businesses that have evolved, modified their operations, and in some cases completely retooled their products and services to remain viable during these unprecedented times. I hope we can see and appreciate their grit and make it a point to continue frequenting their establishments. We at the city will continue to do everything we can to support these local treasures—including further assistance to restaurants interested in outdoor dining, in order to make it part of our “new normal.”
Please join me in supporting local business. I can’t wait to see you out there!
To share your thoughts on the city’s outdoor dining program on Main Street and beyond, visit bellevuewa.gov/outdoor-dining.
