By Seth Daniel
The concept of outdoor sidewalk seating in Chelsea remained largely unexplored until Edson Coimbra and Marvin Posado, owners of Ciao! Pizza and Pasta, submitted a proposal to place tables and chairs on the sidewalk in front of their new establishment, Ciao Market, on Broadway.
The pair thoroughly prepared their pitch. They commissioned an architect to create a preliminary sketch, detailed their materials, and took numerous steps to preempt what they anticipated might be resistance from City Hall.
Instead of encountering obstacles, they found the city receptive and supportive.
Four tables and chairs now occupy the sidewalk outside Ciao Market in the 200th block of Broadway, a development many view as emblematic of Chelsea’s trajectory.
“We got an e-mail back from the City saying that it was possible,” Coimbra remarked this week while overseeing the new outdoor seating area. “That really told us this City wants these businesses and wants the businesses to grow…It sends a very positive message and creates this environment we’ve never seen before in Chelsea. This is history. It’s the first time ever. It really shows how the City officials are moving forward in Chelsea and how we can grow…This is the beginning of something really big, I think.”
City Solicitor Cheryl Watson Fisher explained that the city has taken the Ciao proposal and collaborated with the License Commission to create a pilot program for sidewalk café seating. Currently, outdoor alcohol service is prohibited, though this restriction may be reconsidered in the future.
“It’s great for our business community to be allowed to use our outdoor spaces from April through October,” Fisher noted.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino attributed such incremental yet visible improvements to his conviction that Broadway warranted substantial public investment. A planning initiative addressing the area’s infrastructure is nearing completion, and the City Council has appropriated funds for the planned upgrades.
This month marks the debut of concerts in Chelsea Square, beginning tonight with a performance by the Tarbox Ramblers, an event organized under the Chelsea Prospers initiative led by Chelsea Downtown Coordinator Mimi Graney.
“The sidewalk seating just increases the ambiance of things and the atmosphere,” Ambrosino stated. “We are trying to make the area more attractive to diners, and shoppers and visitors. We want to encourage people – especially Chelsea residents – to come downtown and shop in the stores and eat in the restaurants – many of which are owned by Chelsea people. We want them all to be successful. This is one thing that we can do to encourage that.”
Other communities similar to Chelsea, such as Everett, have recently embraced outdoor seating initiatives in their downtown areas. After adopting regulations last month mandating uniform seating and furnishings—prohibiting plastic or low-quality chairs—Everett is actively recruiting restaurant owners to establish outdoor dining.
Coimbra emphasized that he and Posada selected Chelsea Square as the ideal location for sidewalk seating, noting that few areas feature such a thoughtfully designed square oriented toward pedestrians, complete with expansive sidewalks and landscaped medians.
Though the venture has presented certain challenges, Coimbra has personally managed the seating since its installation several weeks ago. While most passersby have been supportive, some have expressed disapproval.
“In the end, it really brings people into the café,” Coimbra observed. “It’s a very simple thing that’s well put together. There are some people who cause problems, but most everyone feels safe. It’s not a war zone over here. It is safe on Broadway and this is working.”
The city and the proprietors are now accepting applications for the pilot program and encouraging other business owners to participate in the outdoor seating initiative.
“This could be just like Newbury Street all the way down Broadway in Chelsea Square,” Posada stated. “I can think of three or four places that would be able to do this very easily if they wanted. We’re willing to help anyone do this too. We think we can all work together and it will be good for all of us.”