The
owners of
Riptides 11561 in Long Beach says the city of Long Beach is
unfairly revoking an agreement to allow seating on the boardwalk.
The
restaurant signed a new lease agreement last year that said that
the tables can remain on the boardwalk for an extra fee.
However,
the city sent a letter earlier this month saying the tables
must be gone by Jan. 3, otherwise the city will remove the tables themselves.
"The
people of the city of Long Beach enjoy these tables. The visitors who come to
Long Beach enjoy these tables,” says attorney Denis G. Kelly. “If you spent any
time on the boardwalk, you'll see happy people eating food, sometimes you'll
see happy people not eating food. That doesn't necessarily bother the
parishioners and Riptides. So, they've become almost a fixture in the city of
Long Beach and on the boardwalk."
A
Long Beach spokesperson tells News 12 those letters went to all boardwalk
vendors, not just Riptides.