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Sidewalk cafes soon may be on the menu

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published April 18, 2007

Imagine a long afternoon dawdling over a salad accompanied by a beach breeze or the setting sun as a backdrop while grazing on the perfect steak dinner.

These are experiences restaurateur Catherine Pawelek wants for her customers. Her wish may soon come true.

Gulfport city officials are considering creating an ordinance that would allow restaurant owners to put tables and chairs on the sidewalks in front of their storefronts.

A proposal could be presented to the Gulfport City Council as early as June, city officials said.

Restaurateurs have been petitioning for the right to put tables on the sidewalks for at least three years.

At a recent city meeting, Helga Kane, owner of H. T. Kane's Bar and Restaurant, and Simone Frohne, whose family owns La Cote Basque, joined Pawelek in begging the council to not put off the idea any more.

"I don't see any reason why we shouldn't have it," council member Michele King said. "That type of flavor is what we are looking for here."

Pawelek, who opened Elements Global Cuisine on Beach Boulevard in January with her husband, Jose Luis, said she got 100 signatures in two days from customers in favor of outdoor dining earlier this month.

Council member Bob Worthington said he would support the plan so long as all restaurants can benefit from it and if pedestrians can still use the sidewalks.

"There are a lot of people that enjoy sitting outside," he said. "We just have to make it to where we don't impede the normal flow of pedestrian traffic."

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified April 17, 2007, 20:04:45]