WATERVILLE — Council Chairman Dana Sennett, D-Ward 4, encourages outdoor dining downtown.

“Hopefully, we’ll encourage some outside lunch dining,” he said.

He was speaking Tuesday night about efforts to bring people downtown to shop, eat and enjoy the ambiance of the city.

In addition to the regular outdoor dining along Silver Street and in front of places such as Jorgensen’s Cafe on Main Street, one can expect to see some lunch tables inside The Concourse this spring.

The council Tuesday approved a request by Kevin Joseph, owner of You Know Whose Pub on The Concourse, to place tables in a circular park-like area in The Concourse. The nearby fountain was disconnected because youths put soap powder in it, according to Sennett.

Sennett said the pub has had outdoor tables on the sidewalk in the warm season, but the practice is difficult because deliveries are made along the roadway there, and the sidewalk is hot.

Joseph said Tuesday that he expects to place about five tables in The Concourse, to serve between 15 and 20 people, mostly at lunchtime. No liquor will be served there, he said.

Sennett said he encouraged other restaurants, including The Villager and Pagoda Express, both located on The Concourse, to have outdoor dining as well.

In other matters Tuesday, councilors approved food, liquor and special amusement licenses for Joseph’s Fireside Steakhouse, to open in mid-May at 99 West River Road, at the site of the former Jade Island restaurant.

The same permits also were approved for Silver Street Spirits, which is expected to open June 1 at the corner of Silver and Main streets. It is currently the site of Midnight Blues Club, owned by Paul Morency, who plans to close the business April 30.

Charlie Giguere bought the property and is renovating the restaurant, which will have a tavern-style menu. He also is renovating upper floors of the building.

He said he plans to return the sign in the shape of a woman that used to hang at the corner of Silver and Main.

“I’m so glad that the lady is going to go back up,” said Councilor Rosemary Winslow, D-Ward 3.

Giguere, who also owns Champions at Elm Plaza, said he bought the Silver Street building at auction for $135,000, but with associated costs, the total acquisition price was more like $240,000 or $250,000.

He is transforming upstairs apartments into high-end living spaces, he said.

“It’s going to look like a class-act and I think it’s something very marketable to young professionals wanting to work downtown,” he said.

Club Viper in the basement of the building will remain a dance club, but the name will change, according to Giguere. He said it will remain open while the restaurant is closed two to four weeks.

Giguere said he has assembled a management team to run the facilities.

Councilors also approved a $20,161 contract with Sherwin Williams Co. of Waterville for traffic paint and accessory supplies.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com