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Cypress Cellar wants to add sidewalk dining

By Lightning Staff, Published: May 2, 2012

Cypress Cellar, the Cajun-style seafood restaurant in the lower level of the 300 block of Main Street, may be moving on up.

The restaurant hopes to win City Council approval to add an outdoor dining area on the sidewalk upstairs. Cypress Cellar, a stalwart on the downtown dining scene, would join many other restaurants and cafes that have added outdoor dining since the City Council amended the law several years ago. The current law restricts outdoor dining to street-level cafes and restaurants.

Cypress Cellar asked for permission to put seating on the sidewalk, said City Manager Bo Ferguson. A proposed ordinance amendment would allow outdoor dining where the restaurant is below street level "if there is an open-air stairwell connecting the restaurant to the sidewalk."

The City Council will take up the request during its regular meeting on Thursday night.a