Alessa’s parklet may soon be open for business

Inside, outside or parklet?

Customers will soon be asked their preference as they enter Alessa, the popular Forest Avenue Italian restaurant that has been approved to open a temporary dining area in a portion of Laguna Beach’s bustling downtown street.

The parklet, which will take up two spaces along Forest, is expected to open within a week.

The City Council first approved the proposal in October as part of a broader discussion on downtown revitalization with added outdoor dining space and pedestrian-friendly streets.

Alessa chef and owner Alessandro Pirozzi said the city asked Forest Avenue merchants last year if they would be interested in installing parklets in front of their businesses. The offer piqued his interest.

“This is something they do in a lot of the state,” Pirozzi said of parklets. “It’s a nice, new thing. We want everyone to have a good time and be able to enjoy themselves.”

The wood-floored area will seat about 20 diners and have a special menu, Pirozzi said, adding he still needs more procedural approvals from the city and state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Vertical steel beams will allow Alessa to string lights above diners seated in the parklet.

Pirozzi asked Ruben Flores, owner of an award-winning landscape design business, to come up with a plant and tree palette for the space.

Flores selected olive and tecoma trees — the latter has orange-colored flowers — along with alstroemeria, rosemary and oregano.

“Because it’s Laguna Beach, we’re using drought-tolerant, going with a [fusion] Italian-California look,” said Flores, who is donating most of the plants. “We’re trying to impress upon the city the beautification of the area.”

Pirozzi said he spent more than $10,000 on design and materials.

Critics of the parklet last year said the addition would gobble up much-needed parking as restaurants benefit from increased business on public property.

Pirozzi acknowledged the criticism in an interview at his restaurant Tuesday, but said it was City Hall that approached him with the idea.

Pirozzi will donate proceeds from the first week of sales to five Laguna Beach nonprofits, including the Friendship Shelter, the library and the Glennwood Housing Foundation.

“I’m a lucky chef and restaurateur,” Pirozzi said. “I want to give profit to the people who need it most. People have reacted well and are happy about it [the parklet]. Some don’t like it.

“You can’t make every one happy.”