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Delhi Heights Looks to Open Sidewalk Cafe in Pedestrian Plaza

'Delhi Heights' plans to open first sidewalk café in Jackson Heights this summer.
'Delhi Heights' plans to open first sidewalk café in Jackson Heights this summer.
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DNA/Smriti Rao

JACKSON HEIGHTS — Popular Jackson Heights restaurant Delhi Heights wants to open a sidewalk cafe this summer, making it the first eatery to do so along a busy commerical stretch.

Delhi Heights is getting its paperwork together to apply for the permit to serve food on the sidewalk in the new pedestrian plaza at 73rd and 74th streets on 37th Road, owner Mohan Baruwa told DNAinfo.com New York.

“We have a lot of people coming to the plaza now,” said manager Suman Oli.  “We wanted to make the most of our sidewalk outside.”

The pedestrian plaza opened last fall and has been controversial ever since. Many local merchants complain that the plaza has led to traffic congestion problems in the area, and led to a drop in business.

But people who live and work in the area were excited for the sidewalk cafe. 

“I think the sidewalk café is a great idea,” restaurant worker Shipan Dey said in Hindi.

Restaurant worker Raju Rama, who spends his day off hanging out with friends at the plaza, was equally enthusiastic about a new café nearby.

“It should be clean and cheap, only then people will come,” he said, adding, “And the food should be tasty.”