Jesi merchants protest new outdoor seating regulations

Merchants in Jesi are protesting new municipal regulations regarding outdoor seating (dehors). The rules, approved in March 2024, require businesses to replace existing gazebos and pergolas with simple umbrellas.

Local business owners, including chocolatier Luigi Loscalzo, argue that the new requirements are impractical and economically damaging. Loscalzo noted that the mandated umbrellas are fragile, breaking easily during bad weather, and fail to provide adequate protection during cold seasons. Protesters are also questioning why the same aesthetic standards applied to the historic center are being enforced in commercial and artisanal zones, where business needs differ. Some merchants have already faced fines for non-compliance.