Outdoor dining hours extended in Winston-Salem | News

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Those wanting to eat outside Winston-Salem restaurants until the wee hours of the morning can now do so legally.

Winston-Salem city council voted Monday night to extend the hours of sidewalk dining.

Sunday through Wednesday, the new outdoor dining hours last until 1 a.m. On Thursday through Saturday, the hours are extended through 2 a.m.

The old ordinance, written more than 10 years ago, stopped outdoor dining at 10 p.m. However, downtown has undergone significant growth since the ordinance was written.

There are now more than 20 restaurants in the city’s downtown core. Of those, only a handful don’t have outdoor seating options.

Some restaurant owners said outdoor diners make up as much as 15 percent of their business.