Outdoor dining program returning to Providence s Federal Hill Share Updated: 3:19 PM EDT Apr 10, 2021 Steven Senne In this file photo, patrons lower their masks while dining in an outdoor seating area in Providence, R.I., Monday, May 18, 2020. (AP Photo) SOURCE: Steven Senne Share Updated: 3:19 PM EDT Apr 10, 2021 A popular outdoor dining program in the city of Providence is returning next month. Al Fresco on the Hill will start May 14, and Federal Hill s iconic restaurants will be able to expand dining space onto Atwells Avenue for about 20 weeks every Friday and Saturday night. The Federal Hill Commerce Association made the announcement Friday, along with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza s announcement of waived outdoor activation fees for the second year in a row.According to the commerce association, Federal Hill restaurants that participated in outdoor dining saw an average of 80% of their reservations fi
Outdoor dining on Federal Hill is coming back better than ever
âAl Fresco on The Hillâ will run for 20 weeks, starting May 14.
By Dan McGowan Globe Staff,Updated April 9, 2021, 2 hours ago
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DePasquale Square, a Federal Hill neighborhood in Providence, R.I., is a colorful collection of restaurants arranged around a fountain.Lane Turner/Globe Staff
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Restaurants filled with diners past 10:30 P.M. on Friday for the first time in months.
“It’s a shot in the arm,” said Owner at the Thirsty Beaver Ed Brady.
The Department of Health originally announced Thursday the state curfew would be lifted starting next week, but restaurants lobbied to make it more immediate.
“When they said they wanted to do it Sunday, our big question was well why? Why do we need to wait?” said Rick Simone of the Federal Hill Commerce Association. “We only need two or three hours to prepare for this. So that’s why we pushed really hard last night to get a change for today.”
As Mass. ends restaurant curfews, will R.I. diners take their business across the border?
âWeâre proud Massachusetts was able to make this change, but weâre not naive to the fact that Rhode Island businesses will hurt because of it,â said one Cranston lawmaker and local business owner.
By Alexa Gagosz Globe Staff,Updated January 26, 2021, 4:33 p.m.
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Passersby walked past an empty restaurant in Providence in May 2020.Steven Senne/Associated Press
PROVIDENCE â Even with every chair in his 14-seat restaurant filled every night, Federal Hill owner Armando Bisceglia says he is losing an estimated $35,000 each month because of Rhode Islandâs mandated business curfew.