Wilton: Outdoor Dining Important Ingredient to Economic Health

Garden City kicked off its fourteenth season of al fresco dining April 1 and Mother Nature has provided the perfect backdrop.

According to John Wilton, chair of the Garden City Merchants, Professionals and Retailers group, "Outdoor dining is a very important ingredient to the economic health of our downtown. The weather has been good of late and hopefully it will continue. Please understand that that's vital to the net profit of our merchants."

Thirty-three local eateries have secured outdoor dining permits for 2011:

• Seventh Street Gourmet, 100 Seventh Street (280-3001)
• Waterzooi Belgian Bistro, 850 Franklin Avenue (877-2177)
• Novita, 860 Franklin Avenue (739-7660)
• Seventh Street Café, 126 Seventh Street (747-7575)
• Garden City Bistro, 662 Franklin Avenue (747-3696)
• Gallery Pizzeria, 52 New Hyde Park Road (354-6102)
• Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, 165 Seventh Street (248-4417)
• Walk Street, 176 Seventh Street (746-2592)
• Leo's, 190 Seventh Street (742-0574)
• Mumon, 1300 Franklin Avenue (747-3388)
• Kinha Sushi, 988 Franklin Avenue (877-0888)
• Grimaldi's Pizza, 980 Franklin Avenue (294-6565)
• Food for Thought, 154 Seventh Street (747-5811)
• The Cupcake Corner, 61 New Hyde Park Road (328-2253)
• Natural Food Market, 140 Seventh Street (742-0090)
• Riesterer's Bakery, 96 Seventh Street (294-3560)
• Garden City Pizza, 670 Franklin Avenue (294-2929)
• TCBY Treats, 158 Seventh Street (741-5132)
• Kings Super Market, 870 Franklin Avenue (739-5559)
• Starbucks, 184 Seventh Street (741-8295)
• B.K. Sweeney's Uptown Grille, 636 Franklin Avenue (746-3075)
• Public House 55, 55 New Hyde Park Road (328-8326)
• Keyfood Market Place, 153-157 Seventh Street (742-2713)
• My Three Sons Bagel Cafe, 974 Franklin Avenue (280-9210)
• Calageros, 919 Franklin Avenue (294-2922)
• Wild Fig, 829 Franklin Avenue (739-1002)
• The Burger Spot, 150 Seventh Street (746-6100)
• , 174 Seventh Street (294-2937)
• Garden City Coffee Shop, 653 Franklin Avenue (746-9322; 741-3240)
• Cold Stone Creamery, 984 Franklin Avenue (742-3656)
• La Nonna Bella, 660 Franklin Avenue (248-0366)
• Bagelman of Garden City, 162 Seventh Street (746-2881)
• Sushi Ya Japanese Restaurant, 949 Franklin Avenue (873-8818)

The English translation of al fresco means "in the fresh" (air). Years back, the Garden City Chamber of Commerce requested the village change its code to allow for outdoor dining by permit.

Officials believed the project was an effective way to encourage shopping in Garden City's downtown, serving as an enhancement for businesses on Franklin Avenue, Seventh Street and New Hyde Park Road.

In May 1997, the feature was officially implemented.