Streateries: A Hard Sell So Far In OKC

More cities in the metro are allowing restaurants to serve up fresh air with their fresh food.

Three months ago, Oklahoma City announced plans to help restaurants create streateries. But the plan never took off.

During the pandemic, restaurants would be allowed outdoor seating in parking spaces next to their businesses.

“It’s just a really neat opportunity to expand our dining room options and make people feel safe,” said Jamie Winteroth of Aurora on Northwest 16th Street in the Plaza District.

Winteroth hopes to add nine tables in the two parking spaces out front of her restaurant by this weekend.

“It’s just a really neat opportunity to expand our dining room options and make people feel safe,” said Winteroth.

Winteroth expects the outdoor tables with extra exposure- to offset what's been missing inside this plaza restaurant.

In June, the city announced available funds to reimburse restaurants for umbrellas, space heaters and flower planter dividers.

But no restaurants originally put in an application for a streatery.

The city said only three restaurants have put in applications and the city has no money left to reimburse restaurants.

Winteroth is paying for her Aurora’s streatery out of her own pocket but believes it can still be a moneymaker into the winter months.