Restaurants Serving Outdoor Diners Without Proper Permits
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – After a serious crash at a local eatery, where a car plowed into a group of people dining outside, CBS4 News learned not only does that restaurant not have a permit for outdoor dining, but according to the City of Miami's Public Works Department, neither do any of the other businesses on that strip along NE 2nd Avenue and 46th St.
"If we had known that we would've been sitting over there," said Natacha Napotnik.
Napotnik was dining outside at the Buena Vista Bistro Tuesday night, unaware of the accident that happened next door at Lemoni Café and Lemoni Pizza over the weekend and unaware that where she was sitting for dinner, according to the Public Works Department, was illegal.
CLICK HERE to watch Summer Knowles' report
"Well, we didn't know that, and you know what? We are going to move over there because we were just talking about it when we sat here how cars are coming very close, so yeah, we should move over there," Napotnik said as she and her friends gathered there belongings to move inside.
"I guess something has to get worked out," said Luis Barredo. "It's my first time here, the food is really good, but that's something to consider for sure."
Overall, patrons said they hope the businesses and city of Miami can come to a compromise, without sacrificing safety.
"They should build [the sidewalk] a little bit wider and put some signs up,"Napotnik said. "First of all the speed limit is 35 and they are going way too fast, so maybe some cops around would help. Definitely."
RELATED CONTENT:
