Use This Link To Get Updated Quimby Street Events

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Downtown Westfield Corporation recently announced a new plan for "Open Quimby" weekends. To get the up-to-date list of Quimby Street events and signups for the current weekend, click this link.

The weekends will still be music and outdoor dining, but one-way traffic is allowed. To find the updated rules, click here.

To find out more about outdoor dining in Westfield, click here.

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Open Quimby, which has resulted in restricting Quimby Street to pedestrians on the weekend, was developed by the Downtown Westfield Reopening Task Force which includes the DWC, Mayor Brindle and Councilwoman Mackey, town employees, and business owners.

“While thousands of people have visited Quimby over the past four weekends to dine al fresco, take in an exercise class or just stroll down an open street, we are aware of the fact that this arrangement has been really good for some businesses, ok for a few and not so great for others,” said Bob Zuckerman, DWC executive director.

“In order to try to accomplish our goals of creating a real pedestrian plaza, providing more space for outdoor dining, allowing cars to park for quick curbside pickup and deliveries, and creating an attractive destination for downtown Westfield, the Task Force has come up with a new plan which we believe will better achieve all of those objectives.”

The new Open Quimby plan, updated in late July, is as follows:

1. Quimby Street will become a one-way street, with cars moving in the direction from Central Avenue to Elm Street (the side with non-angled parking). One-way traffic will now flow on this side of Quimby seven days a week.

2. The eight non-angled parking spots on the north side of the street will be open seven days a week for 15-minute curbside pickup and delivery vehicles only. The 15-minute limit for these eight spots will be strictly enforced by the Westfield Police Department.

3. The south side of Quimby with angled parking will become a parklet for pedestrians seven days a week. No parking will be permitted on this south side of Quimby, although there will be access for the two alleyways on this side of the street.

4. Two twenty-foot tents, which will now have bistro lights, will be placed together close to the Central Avenue side of Quimby and used by the public for additional dining for take-out orders (from any restaurant) as well as fitness classes. Sanitized wipes will be available for customers to wipe down the tables in between seatings.

5. The Elm side of Quimby and portions of the mid-block will be used for additional dining tables for the restaurants on the block who have already been using this extra space for outdoor dining.

6. The parklets will have new planters and plantings interspersed throughout the open side of the block. Additionally, we have ordered attractive covers that will be placed over the concrete barriers to help beautify the parklets. These new covers will arrive in approximately two weeks.

7. Live music will continue on Quimby on weekend nights.

Zuckerman said, “We hope the public and our businesses will find that this new plan works better for all of our stakeholders. Our goal is for Quimby Street to continue to be a real destination this summer while we’re living under the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Quimby Street will be closed to traffic during the day on Wednesday starting at 8 a.m. so the DPW and the Police Department crews can set up the street. All of the businesses on Quimby will be open on Wednesday but parking will not be allowed and cars will not be permitted until the setup is complete.

Got a news tip or just want to reach out? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To be the first to get breaking news in Westfield when it happens, and/or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.