Many North End restaurants apply for outdoor dining by deadline

BOSTON — The deadline for North End restaurants to apply for outdoor dining was Wednesday, and despite the opposition, it appears many have gotten on board.

Mayor Wu’s office has not released the total number of restaurants that have applied for outdoor dining permits. The majority of North End businesses Boston 25 News checked in with on Wednesday night said their application was filed by the deadline.

The $7,500 fee being charged to North End restaurant owners has been a source of contention, and for some, that frustration hasn’t subsided.

“I’ve taken the expense of a lawsuit against the mayor. At the same time, I’ve taken the expense of opening up a patio because I need the income,” said Jorge Mendoza, owner of Vinoteca Di Monica.

Mendoza has also added an item to his menu to share his disdain.

“We are serving a cocktail in the north end. It’s the Michelle Wu. It’s $7,500 and you don’t get anything in return,” said Mendoza.

Boston 25 News interviewed one business owner who decided not to apply for outdoor dining.

“We just opened like five months ago, and we can’t afford to pay the $7,500,” said Martin Aliaj, owner of Isabella’s. “It’s been a nightmare for everybody here.”

Aliaj said his designated patio space wasn’t going to be on Prince Street where his new restaurant is located. According to Aliaj, it was going to be one street over on North Square — in front of a door where another restaurant takes out its trash.

“It’s the worst spot in the city they give to us,” he explained.

The tab for North End restaurants partaking in outdoor dining doesn’t stop with the $7,500 fee. The city is also charging restaurants $480 a month for each parking spot used in their outdoor dining areas.

Other changes to this year’s outdoor dining program include updates to barrier safety, fire safety guidance and insurance requirements.

“If they get their money back and the customers are happy about it, I don’t see a problem,” said frequent North End visitor Dustin Feldman.

Outdoor dining in the North End is set to begin one month after other Boston neighborhoods on May 1.

Mayor Wu has said the impact of outdoor dining in the North End is different from other neighborhoods because of the narrow streets and high concentration of patios. According to Wu’s office, the fees collected here will go toward additional street cleaning and rodent and traffic control.

Wu did not say Wednesday how many hardship waivers will be granted to restaurants who have asked for a reduction in the $7,500 fee.

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