KOKOMO Restaurant and lounge first opened its doors in 2020, at the very start of outdoor dining in NYC.

Business was a huge success then, but new regulations and the cost of this season's outdoor dining have the owners taking a step back - despite already being one of thousands already granted conditional approval.

“It just doesn’t make sense for us financially,” said Kevol Graham, co-owner of KOKOMO restaurant. “Plus, you now have to get approved by the SLA to have liquor outside. You have to pay for storage. You have to, you know, do repairs, you have to get it set up. I think it's a little bit of a hassle to have to take it down and put it back up and there's so many other financial commitments that come with that as well.”

The city says roadway dining will last until November. Sidewalk setups are supposed to be open year-round, but Graham worries that DOT delays may change that.

A new bill proposed by state leaders to make outdoor dining year-round would be the ideal solution for KOKOMO. Until that’s passed, Graham wants to ensure that the experience there will only be changing for the better.

“Kokomo will always be a vibe,” said Graham. It will just have to be an experience for inside.”