Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP A party of three chose a table in the expanded outdoor dining section in front of San Francisco Kitchen, one of many downtown Nashua restaurants whose owners are by and large pleased with the expanded dining experiment.

NASHUA – To the casual observer, the table and chairs at which two young women enjoyed drinks and friendly banter outside Stella Blu on Wednesday evening probably looked like standard-issue restaurant furniture.

But to Alison Silva and Michelle Ferguson, their allotted space on the expanded sidewalk along East Pearl Street was nothing short of an oasis, a brief but welcome respite from the world of uncertainty they face every day.

“We’re nurses … we needed a drink,” Silva said as the two laughed between sips of their beverages and bites of appetizers Wednesday evening.

Silva and Ferguson were among dozens of couples, families and individuals taking advantage of the recent expansion of outdoor seating areas adjacent to many downtown restaurants, an experiment that, by all accounts, appears to be a resounding success.

The decision by the Board of Aldermen, which was supported by Mayor Jim Donchess, to expand dining areas by narrowing Main Street to one lane in each direction was met with some skepticism, most of which cited concerns over significant traffic delays and the ability of emergency vehicles to navigate the new traffic pattern.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP A handful of Odd Fellows Brewing Company customers who took an early lunch last week would soon be joined by other diners taking advantage of the city's expanded outdoor dining initiative.

Jeff Bois, co-owner of Stella Blu, surveyed the scene outside his restaurant and liked what he saw.

“It’s been going very well,” Bois said. “After being at home for so long, people want to get out,” he added, referring to the stay-at-home orders that are finally beginning to give way to gradual reopenings both locally and statewide.

Bois said that while outdoor dining had been drawing a fair number of customers during the roughly two weeks before expanded seating was introduced, the turnout jumped significantly once the barriers were in place and more tables and chairs were brought out.

“The last couple of weeks … phenomenal,” he said. First-time Stella Blu diners ñ many of whom Bois said came up from neighboring Massachusetts ñ began joining his regulars almost as soon as he and his staff got the additional seating in place.

Fratello’s Italian Grille, Stella Blu’s next door neighbor, was able to add about a dozen tables along its East Pearl Street side, thanks to expanded dining.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP The bust of the late Nashua icon Larry Elliott, erected years ago in front of 188 Main St., has been outfitted with a mask to remind downtown visitors to wear theirs when they go into buildings.

Nicole Otis said earlier that the eatery was also able to add tables on its Main Street side, news that especially pleased its regulars “and our customers who have missed us here.”

Donchess, meanwhile, pushed for expanded outdoor dining after Gov. Chris Sununu issued, on May 18, an emergency order allowing restaurants to open for outdoor dining only.

While a number of the restaurants were able to continue to offer take-out or delivery to keep at least some money coming in, the ban on indoor dining hit hard those that depend largely on dine-in customers.

But expanded dining, many said, also helped them keep going.

Donchess said it soon became apparent that state-issued orders limiting restaurants to drive-through, pickup or delivery were rapidly impacting local eateries, especially those in the downtown area.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP A Stella Blu server heads to an outdoor table with a drink as co-owner Jeff Bois takes a turn seating guests who found plenty of seating options, thanks to the expanded outdoor dining initiative.

“Nashuaís downtown is the heart of our city and the COVID-19 pandemic has really hurt our small businesses …,” he said, adding that putting in place expanded outdoor dining has helped the restaurants “get back on their feet.

“It’s important (restaurant) staff get back to work, and for Nashuans to get back to their favorite restaurants and breweries,” Donchess said.

Over at Main Street Gyro, co-owner Basil Tourlitis said expanded outdoor dining may very well have saved the business.

“Those first three weeks were pretty rough … we thought at one point we may have to close the doors,” Tourlitis said. But once expanded dining went into effect, customers began filling the new seating.

“It’s really good for the downtown,” Tourlitis said. “People are wanting to go out more … we see a lot of people from out-of-state, especially Massachusetts,” he added.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Alison Silva, left, and Michelle Ferguson, who are nurses, were able to get a table to take a much needed break in their busy schedules with drinks and dinner at Stella Blu, thanks to the space created by expanded outdoor dining.

While expanded dining has helped significantly his and many other businesses, Tourlitis said he is hoping officials consider enacting the next step: Limited indoor dining.

“I think we need to do at least 50 percent (of capacity) indoors,” he said, meaning that restaurants be allowed to operate at half its normal capacity while assuring measures, such as social distancing, are in place.

That would eliminate concerns over “rain delays” or “rainouts,” which, despite umbrellas covering outdoor tables and many eateries, have a significant impact on customer turnout.

On nice days, however, just taking a stroll down the street is enjoyable.

“I love walking down Main Street, seeing everyone enjoying themselves, having a good time,” Tourlitis said.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Full tables and busy servers are gradually becoming more commonplace since city officials launched the expanded outdoor dining initiative two weeks ago. Most of these diners are customers of Casa Vieja Mexican Grill at 96 Main St.

Likewise for Bois, the Stella Blu co-owner.

“It’s great to be back to some semblance of normalcy,” he said. “It’s such a good feeling.”

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Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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