MODSTREET Upgrade Your Outdoor Dining

Getting Smart with Outdoor Dining

by ROGER ZALNERAITIS

Demand for on-street and sidewalk dining continues to be strong nationally. More communities around the country are adopting ordinances and creating new downtown master plans to allow for parklets and outdoor dining to continue for years.

At the same time, restaurants are facing staff shortages and limited cash that challenge them in expanding seating capacity. Furthermore, towns and cities continue to grapple with the question of converting sidewalks and parking spots to long-term private use, as street parking is a public asset. Some towns have responded to this by allowing outdoor seating to be open to anyone.

Our company, MODSTREET, makes high-quality, long-lasting, steel-fabricated modular parklets and fencing for outdoor seating and event use. We help retailers and communities create an inviting and attractive outdoor experience for their customers and residents.

In focusing on this mission, we have partnered with a tech firm in Florida to create a new QR code that allows multiple restaurants to be listed on a single page for customers sitting in our parklets. We call these “smartlets” and see several advantages for this multi-vendor QR platform for restaurants and community centers alike: » In the near term, a QR code can help reduce points of contact between customers and staff, reducing the chances of catching or spreading COVID-19. For outdoor service, this also means fewer people needing to enter one or more stores to order food or be seated. » Related to this, a QR code can help a restaurant or restaurants run more efficiently. In an outdoor seating area like a parklet, patrons

could seat themselves, order and pay without staff assistance. Sharing a QR code and outdoor seating space opens the possibility of shared staff to serve the outdoor area as well. » A quality parklet can be an expensive investment that is difficult for a small business to make. Allowing for multiple businesses to use the same parklet, particularly if these different restaurants have different peak times during the day, could open up the possibility of a partnership investment, reducing costs and increasing revenues for everyone involved. » In places where outdoor seating is public, such as downtowns or container/food truck hot spots, a QR code could make the experience more enjoyable for guests. Visitors could simply sit and order from a variety of restaurants after having found a seat, instead of struggling to find a seat once they have their food. The parklet could also enhance on-site entertainment as public-like seating capacity is expanded. » Finally, a QR code could help drive additional sales to restaurants or visits to downtown through targeted marketing to existing or potential customers.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact me at roger@ modstreet.co, and I’d be happy to work with you to see if a smartlet is right for your business, restaurant center or downtown. Our company stands ready to assist you so that you can have an outdoor space that everyone loves.

Roger Zalneraitis is the CEO of MODSTREET, a startup modular parklet manufacturer that seeks to help businesses and communities reimagine and reinvigorate their outdoor space. Prior to this, Roger worked for over 16 years in nonprofit and public sector economic development. Roger holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in urban planning from Virginia Tech.