Brick Township is getting creative to help save businesses by waiving restrictions to set up outdoor seating.

 

The town has had inquiries already about setting up outdoor seating.

As restaurant owners continue to try and scrape by with takeout sales, Brick Council passed ordinances Tuesday night making it much easier to let restaurants convert space outside to tables and seating. 

 

Since 2017, Anthony Zarrilli and his brothers have owned the usually busy restaurant on Mantoloking Road, the Mantoloking Road Alehouse – which is just down the street from the beach, and the way they do business will change with help from Brick Township.

“I think they are doing a tremendous job,” says Zarrilli. “They actually came out and approved outdoor seating and be able to submit and streamline the process to get the outdoor seating before even Murphy comes out with his guidelines.”

For many restaurant owners such as Zarrilli, takeout barely keeps the kitchen open, but having the new guidelines in place before what is expected to be the go ahead by Gov. Phil Murphy will allow them to get a jump on trying to make up the lost revenue. 

“We are going to be put up the proper fencing approved by the town and setting up tables as per their guidelines for the next three or four days as soon as we get the go-ahead from Gov. Murphy, we will be open and we will make an announcement immediately,” says Zarrilli.

This takes effect immediately once Gov. Phil Murphy begins allowing outdoor seating. 

Mayor John Ducey has also waived the $150 fee and expedited all requests to add outdoor seating. Mayor Ducey says he's already had interested restaurant owners from the Windward Tavern and Used To Bes ask about setting up tables. 

Social distancing rules will be in effect, and fire lanes cannot be blocked. It's also dependent on available space. 

The announcement to allow outdoor and limited indoor seating at restaurants in New Jersey by Gov. Murphy is expected in the upcoming days. Delaware will begin to allow limited capacity in restaurants starting Monday, and Pennsylvania to follow by next Friday.