(New Buffalo, MI) - There's talk of allowing restaurants to provide outdoor dining on sidewalks in downtown New Buffalo.  COVID-19 has created such a need in the downtown and elsewhere nationwide as restaurants struggle with indoor dining restrictions.

During Wednesday’s New Buffalo Plan Commission meeting, officials said a restaurant owner from Chicago is looking to possibly open a restaurant in the old New Buffalo Pharmacy building at Whittaker Street and U.S. 12

Table seating for dining on sidewalks along Whittaker Street might be what it takes for the owner to open another restaurant in New Buffalo.  Plan Commission member Bill McCollum said the owner would also like to give a more modern look to the exterior of the mostly vacant old pharmacy building erected over a half century ago.  “Anything to draw people there would be a plus,” said Plan Commission Chairman Paul Billingslea.

The proposal for sidewalk dining on Whittaker Street will go before the city’s Downtown Development Authority for further consideration.  The sidewalks on Whittaker Street are new and wider than the old ones.  Just part of the sidewalks would be used for outdoor dining to leave room for pedestrians, officials.