The Center City District's eighth annual survey of outdoor dining finds the number of outdoor cafes in Center City and Old City is up again this year, rising to 215, up 5 percent since last year.
Since 2001, when the CCD began tracking cafes, there has been 212 percent growth from 69 to the current 215.
The CCD says the survey was conducted on randomly selected afternoons and evenings between June 2 and June 13 on the sidewalks of Center City and Old City. The area east of Broad has continued its remarkable growth in cafes, up 57 percent in two years and has surpassed both Old City and the area west of Broad to become home to the largest concentration of outdoor cafes in the downtown.
Outdoor cafes were illegal in Philly till 1995.
Here's the full report.
Comments (2)
Last night while walking down Walnut Street between 10th and 13th, I noticed all the outdoor seatings, along Walnut Street and the side alleys where rats and mice used to play.
Posted by Philly Chit Chat | June 26, 2008 2:10 PM
Posted on June 26, 2008 14:10
I think outdoor seeting makes the street feel livelier and give the city a friendly vibe. That said I usually dont choose to sit outside becuase most of the sidewalks are too small making you feel like you are going to get hit by a bus that jumps the curb. Further, because the smaller sidewalks are graded fairly steeply, the tables tend to be wobbly or slanted.
Posted by mike | June 26, 2008 3:25 PM
Posted on June 26, 2008 15:25