Casco restaurants unhappy as city frees up public spaces
PLAZAS, parks, and even roads in Casco Viejo that were once straddled with tables packed with diners and imbiber’s, have returned to their prime purpose… strolling spaces for pedestrians, but local bar and restaurant owners are not happy.
Move by the city to end the free ride for businesses while boosting the coffers of the municipality has led to complaints that income is down, and staff are being laid off.
Those in the eat and drink business who want to tables and chairs outside of their must make a payment of $500 to the Municipal Treasury plus $50 per occupied square meter each month.
That means that two sets of tables and chairs occupying approximately four meters would be paying a monthly sum to the municipality of $700 or about $ 23 a day.
Deputy Mayor Raisa Banfield said that the agreement seeks to tidy up use of spaces within the historic site and prevent abuses by business owners.
“Before making these adjustments public spaces were jammed with chairs or tables outside were found, which is an abuse” she said.
Managers of restaurants and bars say they are suffering because many customers prefer to enjoy the outdoors and the view rather than sit in an enclosed space.
Ada Bass, owner of Diablicos food restaurant, said that to attract customers she has to have one or two workers on the streets showing visitors the menu.
Juan Carlos Cifuentes, manage of Santé said that since the use of public spaces was banned, clients have dropped dramatically from a year ago when and income had dropped from $1000 a day to $150.
He said that if income goes down, taxes contributed to the country down.
The Deputy Mayor warned that spaces can only be used with prior permission of the municipality to ensure free movement within the site.
Those who violate the rule will be facing penalties ranging from $1000-$5000 and for repeat offenders the amount could triple.
Businesses that require parking space for cars, will have to pay $150 a month for each prior authorization from the municipality.