After complaints about blocking the sidewalk and creating litter, the City of Istanbul has been cracking down on street dining, gutting the food industry in the process.
Constanze Letsch reports that over 2,000 waiters and other restaurant employees from the crackdown, and revenues are down 80% at some cafes:
"One possible solution offered by the municipality is the "70cm balcony" that can be added outside – so far only one restaurant has put the idea into practice, at a price of 20,000 lira. According to Turkish media, the official guidelines are vague: the balcony should be "chic" and not cheap-looking, but business owners could decide themselves about the final design. Most restaurant and bar owners, however, reject this costly plan."
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