The first car-free day on Newbury Street started in 2016, but the tradition has now gained particular importance as businesses continue to try and climb back from the economic hits of the pandemic. After a popular string of Open Newbury days in August, there will be another such day on September 26. Michael Serpa, the chef and owner behind Grand Tour and the Select Oyster Bar joined Jim Braude on Greater Boston to talk about it.
Serpa says outdoor dining and street patios have saved many restaurants during the pandemic and would like to see Open Newbury continue.
“I’d like to shut it down all the time,” he said. “As a pilot program, Open Newbury Street has been wildly successful and it has shown the appeal and the draw of a pedestrianized street in our city… It’s the highest and best use of the space of the city is by taking away those parking spaces and then giving [them] to the retails spaces to thrive.”
WATCH: A car-free Newbury Street returns this weekend
