NORTHAMPTON, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Sidewalk seating is back along Northampton’s Main Street and local businesses are getting ready for a steady rush of people looking to soak up the sunshine.

For dining spots like Fitzwilly’s, outdoor seating means more tables and more chances to turn a lunch or dinner into a longer stay. Northampton DPW crews were out setting up barriers and filling up pots with mulch.

“There’s a lot to do in Northampton. With the opportunity of having the outdoor seating, it brings more guests to the town, so I feel like it benefits everyone,” said Chrissy Casagrande and Katie Rogowski of Fitzwilly’s Restaurant.

An outdoor option brings the type of atmosphere that turns a quick meal into an afternoon downtown and locals notice it every year around this time. “I think that’s one thing Northampton’s a little known for. When spring and summer come around, we close down the whole street for outside seating and it’s kind of a big part of what goes on in town,” said Jack St. Onge of Northampton.

The warmer temperatures are also a boost for nearby business owners such as Roberto Saravia, the owner and operator of Masa Mexicano in Florence. “It definitely boosts a lot of business because people are eager to come out, especially during spring. Everybody has been stuck inside,” Saravia said. “It’s just a great environment to get our name out there too.”

This week’s warm temperatures are giving local businesses an early head start.

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