Tired of being home? Downtown Durham will open streets for low-key festivities

Expect a little more life to return to Downtown Durham every weekend until Christmas arrives. But also expect to wear a mask, if you plan to go.

Several blocks downtown will open to pedestrians for the next 14 weekends for outdoor dining, with seating spaced six feet apart and face coverings encouraged for every visitor.

The Streetery includes 25 participating restaurants, with seating spread mostly across West Chapel Hill and West Main streets at City Center. Lights will decorate the blocks and local musicians will perform, according to a news release.

“This is really being driven by a need to help our restaurants,” said Nicole Thompson, chief executive officer of Downtown Durham Inc. “And understanding that in Durham, we support our locally grown businesses, and a lot of our businesses in downtown, our small entrepreneurial restaurants, are struggling right now.”

The hospitality industry has been hit especially hard from the economic fallout of the pandemic, The News & Observer reported. Several restaurants in the Triangle have closed permanently.

But with the COVID-19 case rate steadying, Gov. Roy Cooper has eased some restrictions on social activities and allowed more flexibility for cities to reopen local businesses.

Mass gatherings can now include up to 50 people outdoors and 25 people indoors. Bars, nightclubs and other indoor entertainment venues, however, must remain closed, and restaurant occupancy remains at 50%.

Seeing the new guidelines, Thompson met with restaurant owners to figure out how to help bring business to the downtown area without creating crowds. They came up with the idea of closing a few streets to cars to allow more space for people to walk around freely.

Thompson expects people who go to The Streetery to follow public health recommendations.

Durham County’s public health department vetted Downtown Durham’s safety plan, she said.

“I don’t know that anyone can be 100% safe unless you’re at home completely and hunker down,” she said. “But if you’re comfortable coming out, then we’re giving you more room to move about downtown.”

Staff will place signs at entrances to the main thoroughfares to remind people of the rules. Volunteers will hand out masks and encourage people to wear them, but no one will be kicked out for not complying, she said.

Most of the restaurants have already pledged to follow health and safety standards through the city’s website for the Back on the Bull Campaign, Durham’s reopening and economic recovery initiative.

“This is just a way to let people know that yes, downtown is still there. Please come and support,” she said.

But activities will still be relatively hushed compared to the area’s bustling nightlife before the pandemic.

“This is not a big festival. This is not, ‘Hey, everybody, come downtown,’” she said.

Downtown Durham will host the event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday from Sept. 18 through Dec. 19.

A full list of food vendors and participating restaurants is available online.

This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 6:00 AM.