Palo Alto To Open Up University Avenue For Outdoor Dining

PALO ALTO, CA — In the city's latest move to expand outdoor dining during the pandemic summer, the Palo Alto City Council moved unanimously Tuesday to close University Avenue to car traffic, allowing for outdoor restaurant dining.

Expanding on the successful program on California Avenue, the University Avenue closure will be in effect from Friday morning through Sunday night, Palo Alto Weekly reported. If it is well-received, the closure could be stretched to seven days a week.

The council on Tuesday also passed new rules allowing businesses to use up to half of their parking lots for dining or retail, and will allow restaurants citywide to apply for parklets, which expand the sidewalk into parking spaces, according to Palo Alto Weekly.

The changes will allow restaurants to serve alcohol in outdoor dining areas.

Restaurants on California Avenue have reported big boosts in sales from that street's closure, including more than $100,000 in weekend sales at Terún and iTalico, Palo Alto Weekly reported.