Judge orders city to allow Ocean Drive cafes to operate on sidewalk

People dine outdoors along Ocean Drive, Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Miami Beach, Fla. Cooped-up tourists eager for a taste of Florida's sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and warmer climates are visiting the Sunshine State in droves, topping pre-pandemic levels in recent months. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A Miami-Dade County judge ordered Miami Beach to allow businesses on Ocean Drive to operate on sidewalks while a civil lawsuit is pending.

The thirteen plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Caffe Milano, The Carlyle Cafe, Il Bolognese, The Place, and the Ocean 7 Cafe.

Recommended Videos



Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge William Thomas wrote the businesses’ sidewalk café permits are valid without interruption by the city or the city manager’s “arbitrary discretion” until further order from the court.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Emily Hales contributed to this report.


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.