Kent council members will consider the future of the city’s Outdoor Seating Area (OSA), a small part of the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) after a dozen business owners reportedly complained about an uneven playing field.
No decisions will be made at the meeting on May 7, which will take place at 7 p.m. in Kent’s new City Hall, located at Haymaker Parkway and South Water Street.
Much of Kent’s downtown area, and some areas beyond it, are included in its DORA borders, established in 2020. By local law Council approved in 2021, the northern end of Franklin Avenue was designated as an OSA and has been closed to traffic from no sooner than the first Saturday in May until the first Saturday in October every year since. The closure did not start for the year this past weekend.
The beginning of the closure corresponds with the end of Kent State University’s spring semester. Many students leave the city until mid-to-late August, when classes resume.
On April 28, the city posted on Facebook that city officials and Main Street Kent had over the past six months “received complaints from businesses that are not on Franklin Avenue who claim that their sales drop off precipitously when Franklin Avenue closes.” The post stated that the owners had asked council to “level the playing field” and stop closing the street.
The city began closing the section of Franklin in 2021 as a way to allow customers to safely gather during the pandemic, the post stated. It noted that the outdoor seating area remains a popular installment where families and friends gather.
Now, Economic Development Director Eric Helmstedter says that the city “wants to promote and encourage movement throughout the DORA district in an equitable manner that is supportive of its downtown businesses.”
The city’s social media post indicated that the city may continue closing Franklin Avenue or may institute “pocket park-style” seating areas spread across downtown. That translates to the city identifying areas within the DORA district where “additional seating can be safely placed,” Helmstedter said.
Council’s upcoming debate — and possible vote later this month — is rooted in a confidential survey Main Street Kent sent to local businesses earlier this year. Council Members Jack Amrhein, Chris Hook and Heidi Shaffer Bish said they have not seen any data to support the business’ claims and told The Portager they only learned about the issue on social media.
The Portager requested records as to which businesses complained, and if they provided hard data as to how the OSA had affected their bottom lines. Helmstedter told The Portager that a dozen businesses had expressed concern about the OSA.
Among the eight anonymous responses — none of which provided hard data — that the city provided was, “We don’t love that the street is closed. It creates confusion around what the DORA is and disproportionately benefits only a handful of businesses instead of many.”
Another respondent alleged that the OSA has a negative impact on Acorn Alley because people think the DORA is only on Franklin Avenue and don’t venture east.
“I see a large decline in foot traffic and the young kids seem to come around more because of the low volume of people,” the respondent stated.
Another person said they “definitely see a noticeable drop in sales average exactly the moment that Franklin closes down for the summer. I understand that regular people love it but from a business owner’s perspective it seems to give an unfair advantage to those few businesses that are on that street and keeps people from branching out.”
Acknowledging that the space is “a nice option for customers,” another respondent stated that “the draw of the space competes with the spaces I staff, pay rent on, pay property taxes on, etc.” The person alleged that only Ray’s and Taco Tontos benefit from the OSA.
“I have businesses within 10 yards of both of these places and DORA is essentially a nonfactor. It’s grossly unfair for two places to greatly benefit from essentially a free patio space, especially with how devastating the decline of alcohol sales have been over the last few years, specifically this most recent winter,” the person stated.
Another respondent alleged that the OSA “kills our patio business, which used to be great, and takes up lots of parking spaces.”
Shaffer Bish questioned whether opening Franklin Street year-round “would increase business for other businesses,” and said city businesses and MSK should work to attract more people during the summer and “not end what actually is successful.”
Outdoor seating areas already exist in Acorn Alley and Dan Smith Park, she noted.
“Businesses have to help themselves,” she said. “They need to promote their assets. Open a DORA/food window or booth to get people moving around more. Hire street musicians. It’s not all on the city, but if there is some way to help, I’m sure our staff would support the ideas and come to us to approve.”
Hook lauded the OSA’s “special charm,” and said there should be more outdoor seating areas. Many businesses, including those on Franklin, are circulating maps of the 35 restaurants and bars contained in the DORA district, he said.
Because the OSA was established by city ordinance, Council Member Roger Sidoti said repealing or reversing the measure could take months while city leaders deliberate, discuss and debate.
“To decide not to close Franklin at this late date is tantamount to canceling the prom because a few parents wait until the week before the event to raise concerns about the venue,” he said. “Their concerns may or may not have validity, but we work to mitigate them. So, too, will council work to mitigate the concerns raised by those few businesses.”
Franklin Avenue feedback
Kevin Yohn, owner of Taco Tontos on Franklin Avenue, has been active on social media about the possible OSA closure. His posts favored retaining the OSA, saying the community as a whole, not just the downtown businesses, should determine the fate of Franklin Avenue.
One post rejected the city’s “either-or” solution. He proposed retaining the OSA and creating more pocket-seating areas throughout the city.
Yohn’s latest post asks people to email City Manager Dave Ruller and their council members, respond to an online poll, and stop by his Kent restaurant to sign a petition.
Ray’s Place Manager Dave Morgan said the OSA benefits the entire downtown.
“I don’t think it’s pulling business from anyone. I think it’s good for everyone down here because it brings in people with pets and people with young families,” he said. “I’m from Cuyahoga Falls, so I would just rather go somewhere that has a safer space and a little more room. Having little kids, being able to have a little area that’s a little more safe to be at last summer was great for me.”
The father of three small children, Morgan said he would likely bypass Kent as a customer if the city closed its DORA. Young families value safe outside spaces where they and their children can move around a bit, he said.
If anything, Morgan said the DORA attracts people to Kent. Visitors patronize multiple businesses as they wander through the entire downtown area. The inconvenience of motorists having to detour around Franklin Avenue is minimal, he said.
“I’ve heard nothing but good about that little area. I think more and more places are doing something like that, so I think it’s good for Kent to do it,” he said.
Nearby business owners
Stacey Lasher, owner of Grazers on North Water Street, said the Franklin Avenue road closure doesn’t affect her business either way. Each business, no matter where it is located in the DORA, has the option to allow DORA drinks inside or not. Those that do display a sticker in their windows.
“I think the DORA is great because we don’t have alcohol and people can bring it into our restaurant. I think it’s a great option. I’ve enjoyed going to the road closure myself as a community member,” she said. “As a business owner, I can see both sides: how it could negatively affect businesses outside of the road closure and positively affect businesses with it.”
Lasher expressed concern that people may think the seasonally closed area of Franklin is the only DORA environment in Kent. If people don’t leave the closed part of Franklin, she surmised that could negatively affect both food and drink sales of “outside” businesses.
“The original intention of the DORA was to bring more people to Kent and let them wander in our wonderful city. Maybe better advertising needs to be done to point out that it’s a very large area,” she said.
Franklin Square Deli, located at the corner of Main and Water streets, closes at 5 p.m. Manager Vicky Griffith said the DORA-related closure does not negatively impact the deli’s business.
“Most people know they have to find parking when they come down here. They find parking and they walk on down. A lot of people get their sandwiches and they go right behind us on Franklin and they eat their lunch or early dinner,” she said.
Troy Grille Owner Eser Kalkavan said she could not confirm the OSA benefits her restaurant, but she could not say it harms it, either. Troy Grille is located on East Main Street, in Kent’s DORA but not in the OSA. When weather permits, customers are welcome to sit in cafe-style chairs in front of the restaurant.
“I think Franklin Avenue being closed is a very nice atmosphere, but it only benefits the businesses and restaurants located on that street,” she said, adding that she and her family frequent the OSA when they are free.
Barrio General Manager Daron Karlovec said the OSA does not affect his South Water Street business either way. He said foot traffic is down throughout Kent, and many businesses are seeing fewer and fewer students who drink alcohol. Karlovec said he has seen Barrio’s year-to-year revenue decrease by 25% since 2023.
“The up-and-coming generation doesn’t drink nearly as much as the older generation does, and that impacts bars and restaurants,” he said.
Despite multiple attempts, The Portager was unable to find an area bar or restaurant manager or owner willing to go on record as opposing the Outdoor Seating Area.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.