Royal Oak's Rock on Third expands outside space

The Rock on Third is about to become literally that, thanks to an expansion project set to begin next week.

The downtown Royal Oak bar and restaurant plans to add 30 outdoor seats in front of its building on 112 E Third St. and on a new patio on the side of it. That will add to the eatery's interior capacity of 137 people.

"The concept is for the owner to be more competitive in the summer time," says Jason Krieger, owner of downtown Royal Oak-based Krieger Associates Architects, which designed the addition. "There isn't much room on the sidewalk in front of the building."

The restaurant plans to rent two automobile and one motorcycle parking space on the side of the building from the city. It will put its seasonal patio there, along with a row of tables in front of the building on the sidewalk.

Renting parking spaces to expand restaurant serving areas in the summer time isn't new. Downtown Birmingham has already allowed a couple of its restaurants to rent parking spaces, expanding their outdoor seating.

The Rock on Third expects to open its new outdoor seating, a $25,000 investment, by mid-April.

Source: Jason Krieger, owner of Krieger Associates Architects
Writer: Jon Zemke
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