Restaurants served with dilemma on reopening
Provinces ease restrictions for cafés and pubs, but some eateries say they’d rather wait
Across Canada, provinces are carefully starting to reopen their economies. However, each province has a different approach.
One stark difference is that restaurants, bars and cafés may soon offer sitin service to diners in British Columbia and Alberta, while that may be further down the road for Ontario and Quebec.
But just because restaurants are allowed to open, doesn’t mean they can — or want to. Reopening at partial capacity will be a financial burden on many restaurants, and some worry reopening too soon could risk a second wave of COVID-19.
In what is technically phase two of its reopening plan, British Columbia will allow restaurants, cafés and pubs to open in mid-May. In Alberta, these establishments are part of phase one, and will be allowed to reopen at 50 per cent capacity as soon as May 14 — with patrons not allowed to order drinks at the bar.
Aspokesperson for Alberta Health said in an email that the decision took into account factors including the spread of the virus and the ability of the establishments to limit spread while following guidelines. Public health inspections will continue to enforce the restrictions.
In B.C., a Health Ministry spokesperson said in an email that the province’s restaurant association is working on a plan to safely reopen the industry. The plan will need approval from the Provincial Health Officer.
Patrick Schnarr, co-owner of Outcast Brewing in Calgary, doesn’t plan to reopen on Thursday despite the province’s progress in terms of new cases.
“It’s too soon. We need a couple more weeks of this kind of progress,” he said.
Schnarr’s business closed its taproom and switched to offering delivery only early on. He doesn’t think the financial benefits of reopening outweigh the costs.
Because Outcast Brewing doesn’t do food, operating the taproom at 50 per cent capacity could be profitable, he said. But he doesn’t think customers will want to go out right away.
“I don’t think businesses are going to be busy,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Ontario retail stores are starting to see some loosening of the restrictions, but restaurants have yet to
get the go-ahead. Phase one of the province’s plan is vague, but includes “select workplaces that can meet current public health guidelines” and “essential gatherings.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance said via email that the ministry will be consulting with key sectors as it develops the next stages of reopening. Quebec has announced May reopening plans for schools, manufacturing, construction and retail businesses. However, restaurants have yet to hear when they might be able to reopen. A spokesperson for the
Quebec government said in an email that current restrictions require people to be at least two metres from each other.
“Opening the dining rooms of restaurants would not allow or would make it difficult to apply this instruction,” the email stated.
Jason Fisher, owner of the Indie Alehouse brewery and pub in Toronto, thinks many restaurants and bars will choose not to reopen right away once it is permitted, in part because the restrictions may prevent their business from being viable.
“It’s probably worse to be half open than closed,” he said.
Fisher’s business has managed to stay afloat and keep around 10 employees working by offering beer delivery as well as food and beer pickup.
He isn’t upset that the Ontario government hasn’t announced plans to reopen restaurants yet. He prefers being cautious to risking an outbreak of COVID-19 cases just to keep some business owners happy.
A recent survey by Restaurants Canada, found many restaurants will need more financial assistance to reopen at all. In an open letter, it is asking the government to help with the cash flow and rising debt of Canada’s restaurants.
James Rilett, vice-president,
Central Canada, of Restaurants Canada, said restaurants already operate with very slim profit margins — an average of 4.2 per cent at best.
Some businesses, such as pizza parlours that have been continuing delivery, may be fine reopening a few sit-in tables, he said, but others may not find reopening worthwhile — especially if they may just have to close again.
“They’re eager to open, but they’re also hesitant to make a false step.”
Fisher said businesses that reopen right away may have to change their whole layout, especially sit-in establishments.