Little Bar Forced To Remove Big Deck, A COVID Outdoor Dining Remnant In Palm Desert: Here's Why

PALM DESERT, CA — The Little Bar in Palm Desert cannot keep its popular outdoor deck, known as the Big Deck, open, due to liability issues, the owners say.

The bar that sits on Highway 111 faced a June 30 deadline to comply with the city’s rules for temporary outdoor dining decks. Though the city council recently voted 4-1 to continue allowing outdoor decks, like this one, the restaurant cannot meet a requirement, they wrote in a recent message.

"Despite Little Bar offering to indemnify the City, carry insurance, pay for the parking spaces, and assume responsibility for the deck, the city made demands that no reasonable business person would agree to," owner Skip Paige wrote, "including requiring the landlord to assume responsibility for City-owned parking spaces and a deck he doesn't operate."

That requirement left them with no path forward. As a result, the Big Deck will come down on Monday after six years.

"We believed there was a reasonable path forward," he wrote. "Apparently, we were wrong."

During a recent city council meeting, Page says an unidentified councilmember suggested that perhaps we should relocate and become "Medium Bar.

"We'll pass," Paige said. "The Little Bar belongs exactly where it is. So we're going to spend this final week doing what we've always done: serving drinks, watching sunsets, and enjoying the community that made the Big Deck special in the first place."

As it is closed Sundays during the summer, Saturday, June 27, is the last chance to enjoy the Big Deck before it's removed.

"Come raise a glass, watch one more sunset, and help us send it off properly," Paige said. "And to everyone who fought for (the Big Deck): thank you. You proved something we've known for a long time. The Big Deck was never just a deck. Cheers."

The bar’s deck has received much attention recently as the city council approved yet another extension of its temporary dining deck program. Established during COVID, the outdoor deck was allowed along city streets and public rights-of-way in 2020, according to The Desert Sun. Now, frequenters of the Big Deck are sharing their thoughts.

"I vote Skip to run for City Council," one said.

"Do disappointing, Skip. I loved the Big Deck. No better tag line than 'Little Bar - Big Deck,'" said another.

Capturing the essence of the situation, another commenter shared his views, saying: "In the spirit of humor. This is the first time I have ever seen a city order a business owner to cut his own deck off."