On Whyte Avenue Tuesday, crews were working to install a ‘boardwalk-style sidewalk café’ - the first of many - in an effort to allow businesses access to more outdoor space.

City of Edmonton officials said Julio’s Barrio on Whyte Avenue is the first of a number of Edmonton businesses to be granted a permit to expand outdoor space onto the sidewalk.

“It increases the size of our patio, which is great,” Rob Ferguson, GM of Julio’s Barrio said. “We’ve always got a lineup in the summertime of people really wanting to sit on our patio.”

In the past, the restaurant’s patio held a dozen people – but when the expansion is complete, a total of 26 patrons will be able to sit outside.

Due to the expansion, an alternate sidewalk had to be built on the street, to allow pedestrians to walk around the expanded sitting area.

“We have to make sure there are clear sight lines, clear pedestrian thoroughfares to go around the sidewalk itself,” Harry Luke with the City of Edmonton said.

Officials said other similar permits will be granted in the next few days.

“Hopefully you’ll see a different look along Whyte Avenue this summer,” Luke said.

Some in the area hope other businesses – not just restaurants and bars – will jump on board.

“We want to make sure the patron experience and pedestrian friendliness is still there,” Tineke de Jong with the Old Strathcona Business Association said. “Wouldn’t it be great if we saw little bookstores open up where you could sit outside and read a book?”

While the additions will take away parking spaces along the busy avenue, the Old Strathcona Business Association has compromised by adding angle parking along 81 Avenue.

With files from Sarah Richter