TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Wednesday announced that beginning this Saturday, June 13, the county will shut down Pennsylvania Avenue, between York Road and Washington Avenue, to all vehicular traffic during certain hours in order to allow local establishments to provide expanded outdoor seating. The Seats on the Streets initiative was developed in partnership with the Towson Chamber of Commerce.

“Baltimore County’s restaurants and bars make our neighborhoods more vibrant and are vital to our local economy. We’re excited to begin Baltimore County’s first Seats on the Streets program in Towson this weekend to ensure residents can safely enjoy some of their favorite places to eat,” said Olszewski. “This commonsense and innovative initiative is an important first step, and we’ll continue working with communities across Baltimore County to help local businesses recover from this pandemic.”

Seats on the Streets dining will operate on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the month of June. The program may be extended as appropriate.

The following restaurants will be offering expanded outdoor dining space along Pennsylvania Avenue:

• Charles Village Pub
• C&R Pub
• Nacho Mama’s Towson
• The Point Towson (open for street-side carryout)
• Slice NY Pizza Pasta & Grill

Establishments will be required to follow all requirements of applicable Executive Orders, and requirements and guidance issued by local, state and federal authorities, to ensure the safety of patrons and employees. Residents attending must respect all guidelines, observe social distancing, and wear a mask when not seated and eating.

“We are so grateful to work with the County for this first-of-its-kind event and appreciate that they have fast-tracked our restaurants’ applications to make this happen,” said Nancy Hafford, Executive Director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce. “Our businesses are looking forward to seeing their customers and getting more of their employees back to work, while keeping people safe.”

Public health experts have identified outdoor restaurant and bar seating—combined with social distancing and sanitary practices—as a lower-risk option compared to indoor seating.

Additionally, Baltimore County officials announced that starting Friday, June 12, at 9 a.m., all county-operated parking meters will be operational during their posted operating hours. Residents must adhere to all posted rates and time limits on meters. Baltimore County had temporarily suspended parking meters back in March 2020.