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READER FEEDBACK

Bill would make Pat's seating legal

By CATHERINE LUCEY
Philadelphia Daily News

luceyc@phillynews.com 215-854-4172

Pat's is going legal.

Although the legendary cheesesteak establishment has featured outdoor seating for more than 20 years, a recent city inspection revealed that the owners never had approval for the tables, trash cans, signs and awning on the sidewalk where Passyunk Avenue intersects with Wharton and 9th streets.

Councilman Frank DiCicco, who counts Pat's King of Steaks among the eateries in his district, has introduced legislation that will give Pat's belated permission for the picnic tables and benches where patrons chow down. The bill was approved yesterday by the Council Committee on Streets and Services.

"I don't think it's that unusual," DiCicco said of the licensing problems, noting that many businesses aren't fully compliant with city regulations.

Tommy Francono, general manager at Pat's, said that they thought they were fully legal until a Licenses and Inspections visit about six months ago.

"We always thought we had a cafe license," he said.

But Francono stressed that the outdoor eating isn't going anywhere: "The tables have been out here for so long. People have to sit down here and eat."

So, is this just a Pat's problem? DiCicco aide Brian Abernathy said that he isn't aware of any outstanding violations for Geno's, the rival South Philly cheesesteak stand.

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Comments

Posted 07:16 AM, 10/30/2009

Sillimish

"We always thought we had a cafe license," he said. Um...shouldn't that be posted? "I know I got one here somewhere..."

Posted 07:33 AM, 10/30/2009

chrissmith

Do any real people from Philly even go to Pat's or Geno's? I only see tourists and college kids there.

Posted 07:53 AM, 10/30/2009

sjjr

Real Philly and South Jersey people use real cheese on their cheesesteaks, not Cheez-Wiz. I would never go to Pats, Geno's or Jim's, those are for out-of-towners who don't know any better. When I bring friends in from out of town, I don't take them there. I went to those places when I was a dumb kid. Now I know better.

Posted 07:54 AM, 10/30/2009

Who cares

I live about 5 minutes from Pat's and Geno's and I think that I have eaten down there maybe twice. It is Rat central down there, I am not really sure who would eat any food from that section of the city...

Comment removed.

Posted 08:23 AM, 10/30/2009

LJL

Steve's Prince of...on St. Vincent and Bustleton makes Pat's and Geno's look like low-grade dog food. Long live the Prince!

Posted 08:23 AM, 10/30/2009

crd130

campos is the place to go for city natives... in my opinion.

Posted 08:32 AM, 10/30/2009

longshanks

What do South Jersey people have to do with this? South Jersey is a dump.

Posted 08:35 AM, 10/30/2009

phillyguy215

Pat's Geno's and jims's are for tourists.

Posted 09:06 AM, 10/30/2009

feudi

Go to Chubby's in Roxborough

Posted 09:06 AM, 10/30/2009

bgorton

i can't believe there are actually pretentious cheese steak eaters, but apparently there are. Its a cheese steak; how many times have you had one sober? if often enough to wax about the quality and the cheese, stop eating them tubby. leave it to us drunk sports fans.