Once the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, businesses rushed to find solutions to prevent themselves from failing. Restaurants were hit especially hard, but chef Jenee Kim saw a solution in LA’s emergency al fresco dining program. Allowed to skirt the permitting requirements during the pandemic, Kim invested $80,000 in building an outdoor patio in the parking lot.
The Impact of Park’s BBQ Patio
Her restaurant, Park’s BBQ, has brought quality Korean meats and banchan for over 20 years, and she was determined to keep it that way. The patio succeeded in bringing her customers back. Today, with the pandemic largely weathered, the patio experience has become just another part of the restaurant. Customers love the light and the seating, providing an outdoor alternative to the main restaurant. Despite this, Kim plans to tear it down.
Temporary Measures
The emergency dining program was a temporary one, and after a meeting with the building and safety department, she found out that she would need to get a permanent permit for her patio. While the city expressed that they would make it easy to get a permit, Kim felt that the rules and restrictions would prove too much and remained resigned to tearing it down.
LA’s 2020 dining program required little more than an online form, but its sunset is reinstating the requirements that were ignored during the pandemic. Business owners who wanted to keep their additions rushed to get the paperwork in order, but fortunately Mayor Karen Bass announced an extension just before the final deadline. Six more months was a relief for business owners.
The Start of an Optimistic Future
While the permitting process remains complicated, Park BBQ’s Operations Director, Ryan Kim, feels optimistic about the current situation. The patio will remain open for the foreseeable future.
Why the Old Process?
So, what exactly is the problem with the old process? As overseer of the Independent Hospitality Coalition, Eddie Navarrette, explained on LAist 89.3’s AirTalk: “It’s essentially a building permit for private property…four engineers were assigned to your project…a green engineer for environmental standards, one for disabled access, one for zoning, and one for your building. That’s four people to look at your project.”
Businesses also need several approvals. Rather than one department, business owners can expect to communicate with the Health Department, the Transportation Department, and the Building and Safety Department to get their hands on a permit. Often, they need to hire a professional just to keep everything in order.
Progress for the LA Restaurant Industry
Navarette is working on proposals for streamlining the approval process. Resources available for training and the application process seem limited to English, leaving many restaurant owners without guidance, since they may not speak English. Accessibility will be key for these individuals to keep their COVID-19-era extensions around. Navarette also suggests that a self-certification process for restaurants could be a solution, which could permit them to have tables and chairs in their parking lots as an outdoor alternative.
“It’s progress,” said Navarette, “but we have a long way to go. I’m proud of the Mayor and her staff doing the right thing, but the only way we’re going to get there is to do the work. This is a step in the right direction, but it’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon, and we gotta stay in the race.”
While progress is being made, the future of these restaurants remains unclear. Progress has to keep moving or it will come to a halt and leave restaurant owners like Kim without options going forward. As Navarette expresses, the marathon is ongoing for every restaurant owner who wants to stay in the race.
