Toronto – The City of Toronto announced program improvements for the City’s summer 2024 CaféTO patio season, pending Toronto City Council approval. Mayor Olivia Chow was at Red Rocket Coffee on Danforth Avenue earlier today where she announced upcoming program changes and celebrated a successful 2023 CaféTO curb lane patio season. She was joined by Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth), Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North), Tracy Macgregor, Vice President of Ontario, Restaurants Canada and John Kiru, Executive Director of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA).
CaféTO, which was made a permanent City program this year, has transformed Toronto’s commercial main streets, revitalized neighbourhoods and supported hundreds of local restaurants and food suppliers, while protecting thousands of jobs during a very challenging time for the hospitality industry.
In 2023, CaféTO delivered approximately 1,000 places to dine outdoors in Toronto, including more than 330 curb lane cafés, 500 sidewalk cafés (which can remain in place throughout the winter), as well as dozens of patios on private property.
In 2022, CaféTO patios delivered approximately $203 million in economic benefits to the city (per a TABIA-led economic impact study).
City staff began removing the remaining on-street barriers and equipment for the 2023 curb lane patios last week, so that roads can be treated with brine and made safer when the first frosts hit.
Looking ahead to 2024
City staff are planning for a better and more streamlined CaféTO experience for restaurant operators and their patrons in 2024. The City is ready to:
- Fast track approvals for returning restaurants – Ensure any restaurants that participated in 2023, have the same installation plan for 2024 and are in good standing with all requirements will be fast tracked through approvals and confirmed by no later than Thursday, November 30. For returning restaurants that want or need to change their curb lane patio plans for 2024, City staff will work closely with applicants to get those approvals done as quickly as possible.
- Provide easier, faster approvals for new restaurants – For restaurants joining the program in 2024, there will be an easier and faster approval process with the new application process start date as early as mid-January. The goal is to approve at least 90 per cent of eligible new applicants by mid-April 2024, provided their applications demonstrate compliance with City requirements.
- Open curb lane patios by the Victoria Day long weekend – Ensure at least 90 per cent of approved CaféTO curb lane patios are ready to open by the Victoria Day long weekend. Weather permitting, City staff will begin setting up safety equipment on Wednesday, May 1, so that operators can be ready to go.
Other improvements will include more streamlined business processes, improved communication with restaurants and, pending Council consideration, an ongoing review of City policies and regulations, as well as changes to zoning bylaws to make more private patios permanent and support additional revenue for businesses. All these improvements will be informed by ongoing discussions and engagement with program participants.
Proposed changes for the CaféTO 2024 curb lane patio season will be presented in a report to Council later this fall.
Amplified Music on Patios program supports local musicians
The Amplified Music on Patios program – extended citywide on CaféTO installations in 2023 – has continued to provide paid performance opportunities for local musicians, while enhancing the outdoor dining experience for the public. More information is available on the City’s Amplified Live Music on Patios webpage.
The City’s restaurant support programs
CaféTO is one of several City-led business support programs that help the local restaurant industry and the larger food supply chain. Toronto’s diverse and vibrant restaurants and bars benefit from such programs, including:
- The property tax reduction for small businesses.
- The tax reduction for live music venues.
- Winterlicious and Summerlicious programs: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/licious-participation
- Night Economy planning that’s underway.
The CaféTO Property Improvement Program received 182 applications from restaurant operators in 2023. The program matches 50 per cent of the cost of eligible patio space improvements, including costs associated with renting, leasing or purchasing accessible temporary platforms, up to a maximum of $7,500. The Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), funds the CafeTO TO Property Improvement Program as part of the Toronto Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative. More information about this Initiative is available on the City’s website.
“Thank you to the many restaurant owners, Business Improvement Areas, workers and people who enjoyed CaféTO patios for continuing to embrace outdoor dining. These cafés bring vibrancy and energy to our streets. While there are many programs that support the restaurant industry here in Toronto, CaféTO is a visible and important program to many. I am committed to working with City staff to make whatever changes are necessary to ensure CaféTO reaches its full potential as soon as next year.” – Mayor Olivia Chow