Success in 2020 spurs continuation of 'parking patios' in downtown Rochester

After debuting during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rochester’s painted concrete barriers are returning to downtown for the summer of 2021.

Five downtown businesses — Café Steam, Pasquale’s Pizzeria, Chester’s, Bleu Duck, and the downtown Potbelly location — received the barriers Thursday morning, still adorned with murals from last year’s program.

Will Forsman, general manager of Café Steam (and a regular Med City Beat photographer), says he immediately jumped on the opportunity to bring back the “parking patio” for 2021. After building his own custom patio last year, he plans to add an outdoor stage to the arsenal this year. 

The construction has been a lot of work, he says, but the extra seating was well worth the effort.

“We know those that cast the widest net often catch the most fish,” said Forsman, who recently launched Colorway Coffee Roasters in northwest Rochester. “The patio is quite large, and it’s labor-intensive to put it up, but we know it’s going to benefit the customer and make it easier for them.”

Pasquale’s Presa, owner of Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria, said he decided against joining the program in 2020, but opted in this year after seeing the concept succeed in other part of the downtown. By roughly doubling the size of his outdoor patio, he hopes to give more Rochester residents a “more comfortable” place to go to eat.

“The majority of the people that live here are medically-driven,” said Presa. “People who come to our restaurant always want to feel safe and secure — and if they see that we’re giving them options to do that, you’ll see more people come out to dine.”

The Rochester Downtown Alliance says more barricades could go up later this spring, if more restaurants decide to apply for expanded outdoor dining permits. Several businesses that utilized the option last year — Nellie’s, The Half Barrel, and Hefe Rojo, to name a few — were not part of the initial 2021 rollout.

Still, some of the returning participants say they hope the program even outlasts the pandemic. With long-term city plans calling for a reconstruction of Broadway into a more pedestrian-friendly street downtown, Forsman says he’s eyeing the potential to turn the temporary patio into a permanent addition at some point down the line. 

“These installations are fairly simple, they’ve benefited businesses, they’ve improved the feeling of openness and that revitalization that we're looking for, without having to be a huge fiscal investment,” said Forsman. “I hope Rochester is able to see that these [patios] are beneficial, and people are willing to put the work to get them out there.”

As far as Pasquale’s, Presa will have to move his curbside pickup location for the time being to accommodate the new space — but if people use the added tables, expect the barriers to remain up as long as the weather stays warm.

“There’s a positive value to this for the summer, and if it all works out, I’d love to do more of this in the future,” said Presa.

Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.

Cover photo: Café Steam’s patio along Broadway in 2020 / William Forsman