Midway Restaurant Sees Success With Outdoor Dining Globes

MIDWAY, Utah – Many restaurants won’t survive the winter because of restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Outdoor dining saved restaurants throughout the summer, but the colder winter months make that an unappetizing option.

Instead of going out of business, the owner of Cafe Galleria in Midway developed globes with Salt Lake City’s Alpenglobe.

The globes are heated pods that allow people to enjoy a meal outdoors.

“People are always wanting to dine outside, but especially now with COVID,” said one Cafe Galleria customer. “I think the quality is outstanding.”

One restaurant in Midway has seen a large jump in their winter revenue thanks to these.☃️

The restaurant owner collaborated with a company in Utah to build alpine globes. More on how restaurants are trying to get creative this winter at 6! @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/WCq6n1XkAA

— Morgan Wolfe (@MorganWolfeKSL) December 9, 2020

The globes as a way to expand their seating while still following COVID-19 capacity restrictions.

Cafe Galleria had three globes installed at the end of October.

“And has been just a spike ever since,” said Café Galleria manager Edgar Aguirre.

He said they’ve been so overwhelmed with business that they have five more globes being installed this month. If you try to make a reservation now, you wouldn’t be able to dine in one of the globes until mid-January.

“I think I should have one in my home in the house, you know? Then I could hang out outside during the winter,” one customer said.

Aguirre said Cafe Galleria’s owner got the idea from Europe.

“He was originally in Switzerland for five years,” Aguirre said. “And then there was something similar to this and he kind of brought the idea over here now.”

Other restaurants are coming up with similar solutions to survive the winter.

Down the street, Lola’s expanded their seating by putting a plastic shield around their outdoor dining area and installing portable heaters inside.