Northville’s downtown dining scene is set for major changes after a judge ruled that on-street dining setups must be removed by Saturday. The decision affects restaurants along Main and Center streets that have used cement barricades to create outdoor dining areas by blocking off parallel parking. The ruling follows a lawsuit filed in October 2023 by the nonprofit group Let’s Open Northville, CBS News Detroit reported.
According to Hometown Life, the city released a statement acknowledging the disruption, noting that outdoor dining has been a long-standing feature and that many businesses had invested in operations based on existing policies and permits. City officials said they plan to work with affected restaurants to navigate the transition.
On behalf of Let’s Open Northville, attorney Kyle Konwinski told CBS News Detroit that the ruling reaffirmed prior court decisions requiring streets to remain open for parking.
As reported by Audacy, a July judgment had already established that parallel parking could not be blocked by outdoor dining.
The city confirmed that barriers will be removed by Saturday. Temporary traffic disruptions are expected during the process, but officials said they remain focused on supporting downtown businesses through the changes.
