Tampa Closes Streets to Open Outdoor Space to Restaurants

"In an effort to help further stimulate businesses throughout Tampa, the city proposed closing down select streets to cars entirely," reports Andrew Harlan.

"[R]estaurants and retailers in Tampa can begin catering to customers on premises with 25% occupancy inside, and tables spaced 6 feet apart outside."

The new Business Recovery Zones pilot program launched on Monday May 4, and will run for 14 days during a pilot program. Several streets in the historic district of Ybor City are designated the Business Recovery Zones, as are streets in the neighborhoods of Downtown Tampa, Hyde Park, Hyde Park Village, Tampa Heights, West River, and SoHo, according to a separate article published by Tampa Bay Metro.

Jason Fernandez, owner of Tequilas Taqueria & Tequila Bar in Ybor City, posted a picture on Facebook of his restaurant all decked out in preparation for the Cinco de mayo celebration yesterday.

By closing streets to cars to allow more room for local businesses to operate with enough space for social distancing, Tampa follows in the footsteps of Vilnius, Lithuania and Brookhaven, Georgia. New York City could also follow suit.