RALEIGH - Medallions are popping up in front of restaurants in downtown Raleigh and they're not going unnoticed.
The general manager of Sono, James Yang, says he saw them for the first time when he got to work Wednesday morning. "I thought it was kind of a nice addition to kind of put a placemarker for the restaurant."
The medallions are being installed to define outdoor seating areas so restaurants and bars won't have to use posts and ropes, known as stanchions. Yang says he isn't sure he'll remove them just yet. "With the stanchion, it creates a little bit more privacy for our guests. And, hey, this is just for the guests of Sono versus anyone can just sit down."
The city of Raleigh spent $920 on 100 medallions and Mayor Nancy McFarlane says although the medallions aren't as visual as the ropes, they're still a visual reminder that abiding by the rules will be a partnership between the businesses and the patrons. She says, "It's new. It will take a while to work it out but I think everybody will get it once they are downtown and start seeing them, and understand what's going on."
The city says the medallions have been installed in 17 locations so far with more to come.