NYC's Outdoor Dining Sheds Come Down: A Farewell to a Pandemic Fixture

<img src="https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2019/09/NYC_aerial-1-1.png?fit=2060%2C847&amp;quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=400&amp;h=44&amp;crop=1" alt="NYC Skyline">

November 29th marked the deadline for New York City restaurants to dismantle their outdoor dining sheds, a ubiquitous sight since the pandemic. This is part of the Department of Transportation's new permanent outdoor dining program, "Dining out NYC," which will now operate seasonally (April 1st to November 29th).

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Restaurants failing to remove their sheds face significant fines: $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. This has proven challenging for some establishments, as finding contractors to take down the structures has proven difficult.

The Future of Outdoor Dining

While the sheds are gone until spring, sidewalk dining remains permitted year-round. The city is planning for a different design when the program resumes in April, including soft canopy tops.

One restaurant manager, Eric Lima of Old John's Luncheonette, shared his experience of the difficulty in taking down the shed and the hefty fines involved, explaining why they were complying with the deadline despite the challenges.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

The removal of the outdoor dining sheds marks the end of an era, a temporary solution that helped restaurants survive the pandemic. However, the program’s evolution promises continued outdoor dining opportunities for New Yorkers in the coming seasons.