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.