Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Car-Free Streets

Knives Out: Here Are This Weekend’s New ‘Open Restaurant’ Streets

4:03 PM EDT on August 14, 2020

“Streeteries” are one new use of the curb. More are coming. File photo: Gersh Kuntzman

The city has announced 21 more locations for outdoor dining starting this weekend, bringing the total number of weekend dining streets and plazas to 85 locations.

The new stretches are:

    • Manhattan
      • Bayard St. between Mott and Mulberry sts. in Chinatown*
      • Front St. between Peck Slip and Beekman St. in Lower Manhattan
      • Broadway between 28th and 32nd sts. in Herald Square* and between 21st and 22nd in the Flatiron District
      • 32nd St. between Sixth Avenue and Broadway in Herald Square.*
      • Spring St. between Mott and Elizabeth sts. and Elizabeth St. between Spring and Prince sts. in Soho.
      • W. 120th St. between Malcolm X Blvd. and Mt Morris Park W in Harlem.
    • The Bronx
      • Alexander Ave. between Bruckner Blvd. and E. 134th St. in Mott Haven.
    • Brooklyn
      • Fifth Ave. between Sterling and Berkeley places in Park Slope *
      • Vanderbilt Ave. between Pacific St. and Atlantic Ave. in Prospect Heights.*
      • 61st St. between Seventh and Eighth aves. in Sunset Park.
    • Queens
      • 37th Rd. between 74th and 75th sts.
    • Staten Island
      • Minthorne St. between Bay St. and Victory Blvd. (long overdue for Flagship Brewery fans).

* Denotes that the new street connects to another existing restaurant street or streets.

The "Open Streets: Restaurants" program complements the city's other outdoor eatery initiative, "Open Restaurants," which has allowed close to 10,000 restaurants [map] to set up tables on the sidewalk and along the curbside in space typically occupied with stored cars.

Mayor de Blasio said earlier this month that the popular dining program would continue through Oct. 31 and would return next year on June 1 — COVID or not.

One footnote: The mayor has created close to 70 miles of open streets for socially responsible recreation. Today, the city announced the removal of several short stretches, including:

    • Willow Street between Pierrepont and Clark in Brooklyn Heights (loss of one long block)
    • Second Pl. between Smith and Henry streets in Carroll Gardens (loss of three blocks)
    • Livonia Ave. between Mother Gaston Blvd. and Powell St. in New Lots (loss of two blocks; the open street is now Livonia Ave. between Powell and Junius sts.).
    • Butler St. between Gregory Pl. and Fourth Ave. and Gregory Pl. between Baltic and Butler streets in Gowanus (loss of two blocks).
    • Margaret Corbin Drive in Fort Tryon Park in Inwood (loss of four blocks).

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Tuesday’s Headlines: Restorative (Traffic) Justice Edition

Two stories highlighted a restorative justice program that allows traffic crash victims and perpetrators the chance to meet face-to-face. Plus more news.

November 28, 2023

Top NJ Lawmaker Proposes Major Reforms to Fight Temporary License Plate Fraud

The new legislation follows a seven-month Streetsblog investigation that found widespread fraud involving temp tags, with car dealers abusing weak state regulations and selling paper plates illegally to drivers using them to evade accountability on the road.

November 28, 2023

Fed Panel Wants to Confront the Role of Aggressive Auto Advertising in U.S. Road Deaths

A horrific car crash has federal safety officials calling for systematic responses to traffic violence — including the aggressive car ads that may inspire motorists to hit the gas.

November 28, 2023

A ‘Giving Tuesday’ Streetsblog Primer

Before we ask for your donation, let us prove to you that we're worthy of it!

November 28, 2023

As Greyhound Stations Go Extinct, Low-Income Thanksgiving Travelers are Left Out in the Cold

America's largest motor coach carrier is shifting away from stations — and a lot of customers aren't happy.

November 27, 2023
See all posts