You could almost hear the collective groan when Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered restaurants to close their dining rooms again in Fresno County earlier this month.

The closures are part of a dialing back as COVID-19 cases continue to climb, with the county reporting 8,941 total cases and 91 deaths as of Wednesday.

Restaurants are still open for takeout, delivery, drive-thru and patio dining.

Though frustrated, restaurant owners are doing what they can to keep their businesses running. They’re getting creative, with help from cities making it easier to expand outdoor dining.

And a big noticeable addition to outdoor dining is coming to the Tower District in the next few weeks or so when it gets a couple of “parklets.” More on that in a moment.

But first, you’ve probably noticed restaurants setting up outdoor seating where they never have previously.

When even Denny’s restaurants start setting up tables under tents in parking lots, you know something different is happening.

Fresno and Clovis

Both Fresno and Clovis have signed emergency orders that allow restaurants to expand their outdoor dining into common areas like sidewalks and parking lots through temporary permits.

Clovis’ version even allows restaurants to expand into part of a street, so businesses in Old Town, for example, could take over nearby parking spaces.

Earlier this week, Clovis signed another order allowing other businesses – gyms, stores and yoga studios, for example – to operate in common areas also.

Lots of Fresno restaurants are taking advantage of the new freedom.

The Annex Kitchen, for example, took over the parking lot just west of its restaurant and turned it into patio seating. They strung lights overhead placed tables under the trees.

Collect Coffee Bar at Campus Pointe, the shopping center near Fresno State, has tables and umbrellas out front, but that area doesn’t get any shade.

So their property manager suggested they put seating inside the unfinished shell of the building right next door.

“We see people (there) in the mornings mainly, and the WiFi does reach, so we do see people on their laptops and people studying,” said Sumer Rasheed, a partner in the business.

Fresno Breakfast House already has a patio with a fountain and fans that hold about five socially distant tables. They’ve been able to triple their seating by adding tables under the overhang on either side of the restaurant.

They’ve also brought back their weekend piano player, Nate Butler. They moved the piano from the dining room to the banquet hall next door, pushing it right up to the open doors so he’s socially distanced but the music is not.

The changes mean the restaurant has been able to hire back most of its 35 employees – even with a closed dining room – after initially shutting down completely during the shelter-in-place order, said owner Symoné Tellawi.

“It’s very important because it’s allowed us to keep our staff employed,” she said. “We had been shut down for 10 weeks already. We can’t afford to close again.”

Of course, the increase in patio dining comes right as Fresno moves into the hottest part of the year. Triple-digit temps are giving breakfast and lunch restaurants a better shot at making outdoor dining work than their dinnertime counterparts.

Tower parklets

Tower District regulars will soon see some additional outdoor dining there too.

Two “parklets” are headed for Olive Avenue. These are 40-foot-long boardwalks that will be placed in the parking lanes, each holding six or seven tables. The sides will be covered with murals from local artists.

Just where they will go hasn’t been decided yet. One will probably be in front of Irene’s, according to the Tower District Marketing Committee spearheading the effort.

They hope to put another one on the other side of the street. They’re still looking for a business to adopt the second parklet.

The committee is aiming to have the parklets up and running sometime in August.

Money for the parklets comes from the federal coronavirus relief funds in the CARES Act, funneled through the city of Fresno. Each will cost about $25,000 and more funding is available for parklets in other parts of the city.

The committee plans to hire all local workers and artists to complete the work, said executive director Tyler Mackey.

“Just think about: This is really an opportunity to support some local artists, to support some local business and really be true to our spirit in the Tower,” he said.

Harris Ranch in Coalinga

The Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant in Coalinga also has added outdoor dining and can serve around 100 guests at socially-distance tables in shaded outdoor areas. Printed menus are disposed of after each use. Digital menus are available online and through the restaurant’s mobile app. You can also order ahead or for take-out.

This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 12:15 PM.

Bethany Clough

The Fresno Bee

(559) 441-6431

Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.