The city has ordered the parklets, a holdover from the pandemic, dismantled and taken away by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Not everyone agrees with the mayor’s office’s edict.
By 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, all parklets on 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista‘s epicenter, were taken down by City of Chula Vista crews. There will be no charges or penalties to the businesses for the parklet removals.
Some of the parklets could be seen around 3 Punk Ales Brewing Co.
“This is the last day to take advantage of it, so that’s why we are here to enjoy it,“ bar patron Nicole Biddlecom said on Monday.
Biddlecom is a lifelong resident of Chula Vista and a frequent visitor to Vogue Tavern. The business has a sizable parklet. It covers three parking spaces.
“I loved it. I thought it was cool,” Biddlecom said.
What is really interesting about the outdoor dining structures is they expand the restaurant’s square footage without additional cost. In other cities, this could be a real boon for business where the restaurant’s kitchens can support more business than they can seat. Add in all the takeout orders, and you have a really great opportunity.
Overall, they didn’t harm much of anything and benefited both customers and businesses alike. The idea is terrific to revisit seasonally if the city would allow it.