Restaurants fed up with patio process

Restaurant owners and diners are calling on the City of Edmonton to make it easier for businesses to set up outdoor patios.

A little bit over a year now that we've tried to get the patio, said Daniel Braun, owner of Tres Carnales Taqueria on Rice Howard Way.

We were really hopeful that we would get it for this summer but unfortunately it didn't.

Braun said he was originally supposed to get a decision on putting a patio on the sidewalk outside his restaurant in May. That date was pushed back to June and then eventually into September.

Its a frustration that is shared by other business owners.

Gill Tataev, who opened his Crepe Symphony Cafe on the same street, was well aware of the difficulties in getting a patio when he opened his business four months ago.

After I heard what they went through it kind of discouraged me to even try, he said.

Customers are also complaining about the long wait for patios.

Friday night, some of Brauns regulars set up lawn chairs on Rice Howard Way, creating their own patios outside the restaurant to protest the citys approach.

We'd really just like to bring this issue to the forefront. Strike while the iron is hot, said Leslie Bush, who helped organize the protest.

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Restaurants fed up with patio process