Swapping cars for tables brings people downtown

MOSES LAKE — The temperature reached triple digits at times, but that didn’t stop folks from coming to downtown Moses Lake on Friday and Saturday to take advantage of the opening of a block of Third Avenue to people, tables and seating instead of traffic.

Friday through Saturday, vehicles were kept out of the block between Division and Ash streets to allow pedestrians to wander freely and add a lot of outdoor seating for downtown restaurants. Dining tables, some with umbrellas, were set up far enough apart to satisfy COVID-19 spacing requirements. Early Friday afternoon, signs saying “Shop, dine & enjoy” were added to the street barriers to invite folks in.

“It feels good outside,” said Erica Rodriguez, who was enjoying some shade at a table with Jerry Garcia on Saturday. “We love that they closed off the street and we decided to have our coffee here. We might get some food next,” she added.

Minh Truong, who was having takeout from Pho Saigon in the open air with his family Friday evening, agreed.

“I own a business myself,” he said. “That’s why we drove all the way up here. Gotta support local business.” Truong owns Royal Nails in Kennewick, he said.

Downtown Moses Lake Association organized the traffic closure and expansion of outdoor dining with the support of the city.

“I think it went pretty well,” said Brandon Nicholas, DMLA executive director. “The hotter parts of the middle of the day it was a little slower, but through most of the time Friday and Saturday there were continually people down there checking stuff out. In the evenings it was even busier, and last night (Saturday) when we were starting to tear it down at 9 o’clock there were still people down there getting stuff to eat and sitting down and enjoying the downtown.”

Some downtown businesses were closed on Saturday, but others reaped the benefit of the extra foot traffic.

“I think people are lingering a little longer, checking it out,” said Sue Torrence, owner of Sue’s Gift Boutique on Third Avenue. “I think the signs made a big difference, so you know it’s not construction; it’s for people to enjoy.”

Nicholas said that the downtown merchants were overwhelmingly in support of the innovative idea, although some of the businesses weren’t open for the whole time.

“It’s a bit of the chicken-or-the-egg,” he said, “where businesses want to stay open, but if there’s not enough business for them, it’s kind of tough for them to pay employees.”

Small businesses have been hit hard by the lockdown measures taken by public officials to combat the coronavirus, including a restriction on indoor dining.

The Friday-Saturday use of Third Avenue will continue at least another month or two, Nicholas said.

“We’re going to do it as long as weather permits. Once it starts to get a little colder and people aren’t wanting to spend as much time outside, we’ll cut it. We’re kind of playing it by ear at the moment.”

“I’m hoping this is going to be an initial start where I’ll talk with some of the businesses and see if they’re open to staying open to staying open a little later or staying open on Saturdays if they’re not currently open,” Nicholas added. “So that’ll encourage even more people to come on down and check stuff out.”