Closed streets, expanded patios aid bars
Patio season kicked off in Downtown Windsor on Canada Day as streets were closed allowing pandemic-weary businesses to expand their patios onto the street.
Several bars, pubs, restaurants and cafés took advantage of the relaxed patio rules for the first of six patio weekends planned for the summer.
Last week the city announced it was relaxing existing patio rules for downtown bars with patios and allowing businesses without them to create them.
Normal city fees are also being waived in the interest of boosting businesses that were closed for three months during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Walkerville BIA has also announced its plans to create curbside and “parklet” cafés outside their establishments (expanding out into parking spaces) after city council gave its OK to the pilot project last week.
The current downtown patio weekend lasts until Sunday and there are also such weekends planned for July 24-26, Aug. 7-9, Aug. 28-30, Sept. 4-7 (Labour Day weekend) and Sept. 25-27.