Following in the footsteps of dozens of recession-minded retailers, city officials are going pop-up. The city’s first so-called pop-up cafe opened last month on Pearl Street in the Financial District, providing spillover seating for restaurants. The pop-up cafe will accommodate roughly 50 outdoor diners.
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn — who spearheaded the initiative along with Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz — said that the cafe is intended to spur traffic toward neighboring eateries (the cafe won’t serve its own food, and the seats are open to everyone). Both officials said that the plan will help expand business for local shop owners.
“The city’s first pop-up cafe is a great, cost-efficient way to help businesses while providing much-needed seating,” Sadik-Kahn said.
Mintz called it a “way to continue to work with restaurant owners to help them expand their businesses, and at the same time enhance the quality of life for communities.”