The Wayzata City Council has approved a substantial expansion of the outdoor patio at Eloise, allowing the downtown restaurant to add seating along Broadway Avenue for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The council voted 4-0 on July 21 to approve a new outdoor sidewalk café permit for the restaurant at 332 Broadway Avenue South. The plan adds 468 square feet to Eloise’s existing 165-square-foot patio and provides seating for approximately 28 guests.
The expansion will extend south from Eloise into the public right-of-way in front of neighboring retailer Chico’s. That feature made the application different from other sidewalk cafés previously considered by the city.
Community Development Director Alex Sharpe told the council that Wayzata has not previously approved a sidewalk café extending beyond the storefront of the business holding the permit. He said the decision could also establish a reference point for future applications from businesses sharing downtown buildings or commercial frontage.
Although the patio will extend in front of Chico’s, it will not obstruct an entrance to the store. The proposed seating and planters may, however, partially obscure a window display. Property owner Jimmy Beltz submitted a letter supporting the expansion, while city staff encouraged Eloise and the property owner to make sure Chico’s was informed of the plans. Staff had not received a response from Chico’s before the meeting.
Growing Demand for Outdoor Dining
Eloise owner Lindsay Pohlad told the council that the restaurant’s original patio was constructed when Eloise opened in 2024 and was intended primarily for cocktails and casual appetizers.
Customers quickly began asking to eat full meals outside.
“Everyone wants to take advantage of every opportunity they have to sit outside,” Pohlad said.
The restaurant added several small dining tables this summer, but Pohlad said the original space does not comfortably accommodate diners.
“It is very, very tight on that patio,” she said.
Pohlad said the additional space would allow Eloise to provide more dining tables and create greater separation between customers. She also said the property owners supported the idea and had spoken with local Chico’s employees, who enjoy the restaurant’s presence and the activity it brings to the area.
Plan Meets Sidewalk and Accessibility Standards
Sharpe said the proposal meets the city’s requirements for fire access, pedestrian circulation and sidewalk clearance.
The plans maintain a walkway approximately 6 feet, 1 inch wide between the patio and an existing city planter. Wayzata requires at least five feet of clearance for pedestrian and accessibility purposes.
The project will also require an existing bicycle rack to be relocated. Public Works reviewed the proposed location and did not identify concerns with the move.
Plans submitted to the city show tables and seating arranged along the building, with planters helping define the patio area. Changes to the existing patio include removing part of a landscaping bed, extending the patio decking and modifying a portion of the existing banquette. The design also includes new steps, railings and an outward-opening bifold window.
Public Works has reviewed and approved the improvements within the public right-of-way. Additional council action could be required later if the more permanent improvements require changes to the property’s existing encroachment agreement.
Additional Seating Not Included in Parking Calculations
The expanded patio will bring Eloise’s outdoor capacity to approximately 28 to 32 seats, compared with about 97 seats inside the restaurant.
Sharpe noted that Wayzata does not currently include seasonal sidewalk café seating when calculating a business’s parking requirements. The city therefore did not require Eloise to provide additional parking or make a payment through the city’s fee-in-lieu-of-parking program as part of the patio expansion.
Staff acknowledged that the additional seating could increase parking demand during restaurant hours but recommended treating the application consistently with other sidewalk cafés in the city.
The permit applies to the 2026 season. Sidewalk café permits must be renewed annually by the City Council.
As a condition of approval, Public Works recommended that furniture and planters associated with the expanded portion of the patio be removed by Nov. 1 each year so they do not interfere with snow removal and winter maintenance.
Council Discussion
Councilmember Alex Plechash asked what would happen if the Chico’s space changed tenants or became another restaurant in the future. Sharpe explained that the sidewalk café permit applies only to the year in which it is issued. Because the patio occupies city right-of-way, the council could reconsider, amend or decline the arrangement during a future permit cycle if circumstances changed.
Plechash also asked whether the landscaped area near the patio could eventually be removed or replaced to create additional pedestrian space. Staff said the idea could be explored with Public Works, although a permanent change would require consideration of maintenance and other site conditions.
Councilmember Ken Sorensen said the proposal was unusual because the patio would extend in front of a neighboring tenant’s storefront, but he viewed the annual permit process as an appropriate safeguard if unforeseen issues arise.
Sorensen said Eloise is a vibrant, successful and locally owned business, and he placed significance on the property owner’s support for the expansion. He noted that the council could revisit the arrangement if the neighboring space changes tenants or if the expanded patio creates problems.
He also said the city was treating parking consistently with other seasonal sidewalk café permits and supported approving the request.
Councilmember Dan Koch said he generally supported the expansion but expressed concern about crowding near one of Wayzata’s busiest pedestrian intersections. He asked that the relocated bicycle rack not interfere with the gathering and crossing area south of the planter if another location is available.
Koch described the remainder of the 2026 season as an opportunity to test the arrangement and identify any problems before the permit returns for renewal.
“I love the idea,” Koch said. “I’m totally supportive of outdoor seating and maximizing the benefits of being outside and being able to eat outside.”
Mayor Andrew Mullin said the city should support locally and independently owned businesses. He expressed support for the permit and thanked staff and Pohlad for attending the meeting and answering the council’s questions.
The expanded patio is expected to open toward the end of August, depending on the timely arrival of its tables, chairs and other furnishings. Once installed, the new seating area will remain open through the balance of the outdoor dining season.
