Wilmington unveils new sidewalk cafe rules

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some Wilmington restaurant owners met today to discuss changes to sidewalk cafe’s throughout the city. Under the proposal the definition of restaurant would change to include coffee shops and other food and beverage related businesses. All sidewalk cafes would have to close by eleven p-m, and they would be limited to no more than 50 percent of the city sidewalk.

“In most cases that 50 percent is going to leave five feet or greater worth of pedestrian path,” Wilmington Code Enforcement’s Steve Harrell said. “And that’s what were interested in doing is being able to accommodate both. Also the 50 percent will not negatively affect anybody who has a café at the moment.”

Overall restaurant owners seem on board with the proposal. City Council will discuss the changes at its next meeting in August.