Downtown Restaurants Offer Curbside Pick-Up Service Amid COVID-19 Concerns [UPDATED]
Posted: Mar 18, 2020 3:29 PMUpdated: Apr 14, 2020 1:11 PM
The Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) is partnering with downtown restaurants to implement a curbside pick-up service following the most recent guidance from Mayor Grover Robinson regarding COVID-19 that orders all restaurants in the city to only operate as take-out or delivery, starting on Monday, March 23 at 12:01 p.m. for the next two weeks. To place a curbside order, customers must call ahead at the chosen restaurant, place their order and park near the restaurant. Then customers must then call the restaurant to confirm their arrival so an employee can bring the order out. Customers will be permitted to park for up to 25 minutes outside the restaurant while awaiting their order. “The health and safety of our community is a top priority for us as well as the economic health of our downtown businesses,” said Executive Director Lissa Dees, “we encourage people to continue supporting their favorite local restaurants safely by using the curbside pick-up option.” Restaurants offering curbside pick-up:Jordan Valley - (850) 607-2780Doghouse Deli - (850) 432-3104Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano - (850) 542-8398The Fish House - (850) 470-00035 Sisters Blues Café - (850) 912-4856Atlas Oyster House - (850) 470-0003Fosko Coffee Barre - (850) 332-7737Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille - (850) 432-5226Bodacious Brew-Thru - (850) 434-6300Bodacious Cafe - (850) 434-6300Bodacious Olive - (850) 433-6505Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe - (850) 466-6966Global Grill - (850) 469-9966Graffiti Pizza - (850) 972-1960Taco Agave - (850) 332-7952Carmen’s Lunch Bar & Tapas - (850) 542-4334Bubba's Sweet Spot - (850) 332-6696End of the Line Café - (850) 429-0336The Wine Bar on Palafox - (850) 607-2089Sabai Thai on Jefferson - (850) 741-4618Bluejay's Bakery - (850) 982-9731Pineapple Express Rice Bowls - (850) 332-6478Jo's... As Always - (850) 466-5136Union Public House - (850) 607-6320Polonza Bistro - (850) 912-6454South Market - (850) 857-9455The Olde English Creamery (24 hr notice preferred) - (850) 542-7969The District: Seville Steak & Seafood - (850) 332-5224Casks & Flights - (850) 495-3897The Tin Cow - (850) 466-2103Dharma Blue - (850) 433-1275Skopelos at New World - (850) 432-6565Nomadic Eats - (850) 375-5696Blue Wahoos Concessions (starting Monday) - (850) 934-8444Nancy's Catering & Events - (850) 434-0112Cottage Cafe - (850) 437-0730Four Seasons Catering and Eatery - (850) 434-6771Breweries offering to-go growlers:Odd Colony Brewing Co. - (850) 285-0743Perfect Plain Brewing Co. - (850) 471-8998Emerald Republic Brewing - (850) 285-0190Pensacola Bay Brewery - (850) 434-3353[Photo Credit: Doghouse Deli/Steven Gray]Palafox Market Canceled Through the Beginning of May [UPDATED]
Posted: Mar 13, 2020 12:54 AMUpdated: Mar 18, 2020 8:44 PM
The DIB has canceled Palafox Market dates through the beginning of May due to COVID-19 concerns. This pre-emptive action follows announcements by Escambia County and the City of Pensacola to cancel all publicly-permitted events with 500 or more people for the next eight weeks. “We support the decisions made by Escambia County and the City of Pensacola, and consider the health of our Palafox Market vendors, our visitors and our community to be a top priority,” said DIB executive director Lissa Dees. “We will be closely monitoring the situation and will continue to communicate any updates to the Market schedule in the coming weeks.” Escambia County and City of Pensacola officials announced they will reassess the situation on Monday, March 30 to determine whether to continue or lift the cancellation of publicly-permitted events. As a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:Avoid close contact with people who are sick.Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.Stay home when you are sick.Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility). The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County Coronavirus Call Center is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (866) 779-6121, or you can email your questions to [email protected] Visit floridahealth.gov for the most up-to-date resource for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida. For more information about Palafox Market, visit www.palafoxmarket.com. For information concerning other downtown events, please visit www.downtownpensacola.com. Citation Rates Increase for Repeat Parking Offenders
Posted: Mar 3, 2020 7:52 PMUpdated: Mar 4, 2020 12:15 AM
The Pensacola City Council recently approved an increase in the dollar amount for parking fines assessed to those who are multiple repeat violators. The change was requested by the Downtown Improvement Board in response to a steep increase in multiple violations by the same people, which in turn creates a reduction in available parking for other downtown visitors. A year-over-year comparison of parking tickets had shown that:In 2018, the number of second or more citations issued to the same vehicle was 1,751 ticketsIn 2019, that number more than doubled to 4,109 Downtown business owners say that repeat offenders make parking more difficult for their customers, which results in fewer people visiting downtown shops and restaurants. As of March 1, 2020, a first-offense parking violation remains the same at $10, but for the second violation within the same block and in the same year the fine is now $20 instead of $15. Third violations have increased to $40 from $30, and each violation beyond that now carries a fine of $100. For any citation in one zone during one month followed by another citation in a different zone, the parking fine will not increase. The city will reset the number of violations within one zone every twelve months. For more information about parking downtown in a DIB-managed spot, visit the DIB Parking page.Downtown Improvement Board taking steps to make downtown a safe and secure place
Posted: Jan 21, 2020 4:17 PMUpdated: Jan 21, 2020 4:26 PM
As downtown Pensacola continues to grow, the Downtown Improvement Board is investing in technology, partnerships and infrastructure to make the 44-block district safe and secure for those who work, live and play downtown. One of the ways the DIB is addressing safety is through collaborative relationships such as one forged with the City of Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency in December, which put two additional dedicated patrolmen on downtown streets. The DIB also drove an initiative that paired Pensacola Police Dept. and private industry to combine police surveillance cameras with private security systems installed in and around downtown businesses. With access to a more comprehensive view of the area, the police are able to intervene faster and more knowledgeably if and when an incident occurs. “The DIB district is rapidly evolving with a lot of moving parts,” said Lissa Dees, DIB executive director. “Our challenge is to approach difficulties and opportunities with innovative solutions so we can create and maintain a safe, secure environment for everyone who enjoys downtown.”In addition to new law enforcement officers and shared surveillance video, here are some of the other ways the DIB is addressing the important work of keeping downtown safe: LED Lights in DIB Parking Lots and Jefferson St. GarageLights in the DIB-managed North Palafox lot were replaced by City of Pensacola Public Works with brighter, safer LED lights, and an upgrade to the lights at the Tarragona St. lot was completed by Next Era Energy. Lights in the Jefferson Street Garage were completely replaced with LED lights in 2019. After-Hours Ambassador in the Jefferson St. GarageA graveyard-shift DIB ambassador is now patrolling the Jefferson Street Garage during the late evening-early morning hours. Security MonitorsSecurity monitors were installed in the DIB office, accessible to police officers assigned to patrol the downtown area. Jefferson AlleyThe once-dark and empty alley between the Jefferson St. Garage and the rear of Palafox businesses is now a well-lit active community space with plants and planters, paint, lights and planned public art. Parking AppDowntown visitors need not exit the security of their cars to pay to park in DIB-managed parking lots, on-street parking or the Jefferson St. Garage, now that the DIB has launched its Passport Parking app.[PHOTO: Laura Bogan Photography]Just in time for holiday shopping: Park downtown for free Dec. 15-25 and win $1,000
Posted: Dec 10, 2019 6:49 PMUpdated: Dec 18, 2019 6:44 PM
From Dec. 15-25, there will be no charge to park in a metered parking space on downtown Pensacola streets, the Downtown Improvement Board announced this week. Parking Amnesty Week, first celebrated in 2015, emerged from a desire to highlight the diversity of downtown shops, galleries, restaurants and attractions and to encourage “shopping locally” during the holidays. For the week leading up to and including Christmas day, downtown visitors can shop, dine, play and enjoy Palafox Market, Winterfest activities and the holiday lights illuminating “Florida’s Greatest Place,” without having to worry about parking fees. The free parking applies to any on-street metered spaces under the DIB’s management. With no tickets to write, DIB Parking Ambassadors will transform into ‘holiday elves’ during Parking Amnesty Week, available to help shoppers carry large purchases to their cars or offer other assistance. To reach them, call the “Elf Line” at (850) 434-5371. "There are more than 150 locally-owned merchants downtown welcoming customers with unique gifts, special promotions and amazing holiday sales," said DIB executive director Lissa Dees. "Parking Amnesty Week gives the DIB the opportunity to support our small businesses downtown while giving a little something back to the community in the process." Parking Amnesty Week will also be the final chance for downtown shoppers to submit their downtown receipts online for a chance to win $1,000 in Downtown Pensacola gift certificates for the “All I Want” Giveaway. To enter, participants submit copies of their receipts from downtown merchants dated between Nov. 11 and Dec. 23. Contest entry form and complete rules are online at downtownpensacola.com/alliwant. For every $10 spent in downtown shops, restaurants, bars and galleries, the participant will receive one contest entry. At the end of the contest period, one winner will be randomly picked and awarded $1,000 in “downtown cash” to spend downtown. The promotion is part of the Downtown Improvement Board’s First City Lights Festival that offers two months of music, parades, cultural events, shopping, food and nightlife in Pensacola’s downtown district. The festival kicks off on Black Friday with the lighting of half a million downtown lights immediately following the Winterfest Elf Parade. The event is supported by Gulf Power, Shops of Southtowne, JAH Power Services, Inc., Service Electric Co., Roberson Underground Utility, LLC, L30 Consulting, LLC and Visit Pensacola.