Pacifica Pizza owner Jeff Cromer has begun construction on an outdoor seating pavilion located in the empty parking lot next to Pacifica Pizza for all residents to enjoy downtown’s fine cuisine.

Galen Kusic, Editor

The Benicia community continues to step up when it’s needed most.

Pacifica Pizza owner Jeff Cromer wanted to help bring more business to restaurants downtown during the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, he started construction in the empty lot next to Pacifica Pizza, where a large outdoor seating pavilion is being constructed for the public to enjoy.

“It’s quite a project,” said Cromer.

The project will consist of outdoor seating for individuals to buy food from Benicia restaurants, then sit in socially distanced seating and dine on First St. This is aimed to bring more people downtown while also giving people an opportunity to dine outside their homes safely, outdoors. People can sit and eat there with take out from any restaurant.

Cromer is still working with the City on permitting, so an end date is not yet in sight. However, the outdoor seating area’s construction is coming along nicely.

“I think it will help everybody out,” said Cromer, who has donated extensively to the Benicia community for decades. “The goal is to bring more people downtown.”

Cromer of course emphasized the need for safety and that all seating areas will be positioned to allow for proper social distancing in step with COVID-19 guidelines.

“We’re going to keep plugging away until we get it done,’ he said.

Be on the look out for an official announcement when the outdoor seating area will be open.

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