Outdoor dining is coming to downtown Morgantown—finally.
In the ongoing saga of opening downtown to outdoor dining, November 5 saw progress: The city’s pedlet program, initiated in the spring of 2021 but not pursued over the summer, finally got its first installation.
Pedlets convert roadside parking spaces to temporary walkways, freeing sidewalks for outdoor dining while maintaining usable walkway requirements. The pedlet project was held up by this year’s supply chain disruptions. “It was built later than we would have liked,” says Engineering & Public Works Director Damien Davis, “but we learned a lot from this first pedlet.”
This new dining option, designed by Mills Group and installed outside Gibbie’s Pub & Eatery on High Street, serves as a pilot for the initiative. Davis hopes that seeing the new pedlet and the patrons it brings will encourage more businesses to apply to have one installed near them. “I think it really adds to the atmosphere of downtown,” he says. With a modern design and beautification elements, these temporary spaces add a unique element to downtown Morgantown while boosting its bustling spirit.
Local businesses’ need for more readily available outdoor options has been a point of discussion since it became apparent in early 2020 that COVID-19 indoor dining restrictions would be around for a while. This design costs $12,000 to $15,000 to construct and is paid for out of the city’s Capital Escrow fund.
This first pedlet may no longer be around come the first snowfall. However, that doesn’t mean the end. Other restaurants have already expressed interest in pedlets since the pilot was constructed, Davis says. “Now that we have ironed out the details for getting them constructed, we will be ready to go in the spring.”
Businesses can keep an eye out for upcoming information on how to apply for a pedlet—and residents can expect to see more of these installations coming soon.
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They keep putting these things in and then taking them out (Tin 202!). COVID-19 is now COVID-2021, so to speak, and is endemic. There is enough paid parking downtown so let’s leave these pedlets in for a while.