Philadelphia streeteries race to make licensing deadline

Time is up for Philadelphia restaurants that want to keep their streeteries open, as the deadline to get licensed with the city’s new rules is Monday.

PHILADELPHIA - Beginning Monday, streeteries in Philadelphia must be fully licensed.

Several businesses dismantled their streetery setups ahead of the January 9 deadline, including Jet Wine Bar on South Street.

"That’s exactly why we’re taking them down," said Adam Smull, bartender at Jet Wine Bar. "I think that it’s a little sad because it adds more space for people that want to be a little more comfortable outside."

Simon Rabinowitz was dining outside with his girlfriend on South Street and said it’d be disappointing to see the streeteries come down.

"Allowing these [streeteries] I think have made people want to walk around outside more and wanting to engage with small businesses more," said Rabinowitz. "I understand why there needs to be a more official system about it, but I think it should be a system that is pretty easy to navigate."

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An easy-to-navigate system is not what restaurant owners have been faced with, though. The City of Philadelphia launched its streetery license application in November detailing pre-application requirements, an online guide and details regarding the application process but most, if not all, restaurant owners have said it has been complicated and difficult to navigate.

Ben Fileccia of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association said the streetery license application rollout has been rough and even after the application is submitted, he says restaurant owners are still not in the clear.

"After everything is submitted and all of your permissions granted if you have a structure, you still have to go through the art commission, and now, we don't know if the art commission is going to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down, so there's a lot of gray area," said Fileccia. "We really want the city to work more closely with these restaurants to help them along the way."

The Mayor's Office says it has received 50 applications and all have been reviewed and returned to restaurant owners. The city says none of the restaurant's applications have been approved, and only one proprietor has resubmitted the application with hopes that their business is compliant with the city's new regulations.

Fileccia advises restaurant operators to reach out to local city leaders, including council members. He even advises businesses to hire an engineer who can help with the structural integrity of the streeteries, making it easier for businesses to pass the city's requirements.

"To get these permits, you sometimes have to hire an architect, you have to get building drawings. You might have to hire a civil engineer," said Fileccia. "Well, I know some big restaurant operators that have all the resources in the world, and they still can’t get their permits in, so I feel bad for the little guy that does not have all these resources to be able to get the process moving along."

Restaurant owners and go to phila.gov for a complete streetery license guide.