St. Charles approves outdoor dining program for First Street Plaza through winter season

Customers at Alter Brewing can once again enjoy outdoor dining in a heated igloo this winter after St. Charles City Council members agreed to allow outdoor dining through the winter on First Street Plaza in downtown St. Charles.

At Monday's city council meeting, alderpersons voted to approve an outdoor cafe layout for the First Street Plaza for the winter season. It will be in effect from Nov. 1 through April 14.

St. Charles officials created the program in 2020 to help restaurants comply with the state's COVID-19 mitigation rules at the time. Through the program, businesses have obtained permits to set up outdoor areas and tent enclosures at several locations, including private parking lots, public parking lots, public sidewalks and the First Street public plazas. Alter Brewing is looking to place four heated igloos on the plaza in front of its business.

In addition, Gia Mia restaurant wants to install an awning that could be temporarily enclosed during the winter months.

"Staff is open to reviewing other proposals from businesses that wish to utilize public property," Community Development Director Russell Colby said during the city council's Government Operations Committee meeting on Oct. 3. "We are willing to review all those individually."

Alter Brewing President Ken Henricks told alderpersons at the meeting that the igloos continue to be a popular way for people to dine outside in the winter months.

"I just wanted to express how excited we are to bring these globes back to the community," he said. "We've fielded dozens upon dozens of phone calls within the last month or so from folks excited to dine in those globes again."