SALT LAKE CITY – An experiment to help downtown Salt Lake City businesses during the pandemic appears to have been a success.
“Everything just feels better,” said Mike Askerlund, co-owner of the Alibi Bar.
On Labor Day weekend, the Alibi Bar on Main Street doubled its square footage with an outdoor terrace.
“It really encouraged people to feel safe here on the road,” said Mike Askerlund.
Askerlund says Alibi made up for much of what the company lost in the first few months of the pandemic last year.
“It was scary. At some point in 2020 we weren’t sure we’d make it all the way. Being able to make up for some of those losses was a huge help,” said Askerlund.
The expanded courtyard of Alibi is thanks to the Open Streets Initiative. Since late May, the city has closed Main Street to traffic from 400 South to South Temple every weekend, allowing businesses to expand onto the sidewalks alongside musicians entertaining pedestrians.
READ: Open Streets makes Main Street a pedestrian-friendly dining and entertainment hotspot
“We have seen a fantastic response,” said Dee Brewer, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance.
Since Memorial Day, sales are up 20 percent above pre-pandemic levels, according to Brewer.
“It’s a huge difference for these restaurants that were facing death last year without their normal audience,” Brewer said.
When the concept was first tested last fall, several companies recorded a 30 percent increase in sales. The organizers plan to restart next summer and maybe make it permanent as part of a downtown entertainment district.
“It’s definitely going to encourage more off-board business that is promoting arts and entertainment with the extra street space, things that just make downtown more fun,” Askerlund said.
While Open Streets ended on Saturday night, the DABC extended the al fresco dining until Nov. 1, saying they had only received positive feedback from companies.
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