Restaurant owners around the Okanagan were frustrated and emotional after new COVID-19 restrictions closed their indoor restaurants.
For some, it’s time to dust their patios. For others with no outdoor dining areas or take away options, the next three weeks will be challenging.
On Monday (March 29), the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, put new restrictions on restaurants, gyms, and religious groups. The province has suspended indoor food and liquor sales, indoor adult group fitness, and indoor religious services through April 19. However, eating on the terrace and taking away are still permitted.
Prime Minister John Horgan said Monday that the number of cases had been “unacceptably high” in the past 10 days, particularly among those aged 20 to 39. 2,500 new cases were registered last weekend.
Meanwhile, the Central Okanagan restaurant owners are speaking out.
“The second photo shows what it looks like to be an entrepreneur during COVID,” said Susi Foerg, owner of Rustic Reel, in a post on Instagram that shows a photo with tears on her face.
Referring to her 20+ employees at the Kelowna brewery and restaurant, Foerg said that every one of their livelihoods is on their shoulders. The new restrictions will come with reduced earnings and reduced hours, and a refrigerator full of groceries is likely to go bad now with the province only giving them 12 hours notice. This will not only affect restaurants, but also their suppliers.
“We were so close to going back to regular rent. That brings us back and it hurts terribly. “
On Monday, Kelowna Pub Doc Willoughby’s received a $ 2,700 food shipment, most of which is likely to be wasted. The terrace has only a limited number of seats, and takeout is actually not an option. Owner Dave Willoughby called the lack of notification “disrespectful”.
“It’s just kind of disrespectful. It’s myopic and in my opinion they just don’t seem to understand that we need a little more time to wrap our heads around it and for people to make plans, ”said Willoughby.
Not only did he ask the government for specificity regarding funding relief for the catering industry, but also urged them not to paint the entire province with the same brush. consider regional restrictions where they are needed.
Across the lake in West Kelowna, at 19 Okanagan Grill and Bar, frustrations are reflected.
Owner Neil Martens said the British Columbia’s government “days of collaboration” with restaurants are over. Although he doesn’t envy the government’s tough decisions, Martens said they don’t involve enough people in solutions.
“It’s a big battle for public perception and right now they just need to be perceived as something, and so they are taking the route of least resistance to find restaurants, gyms, and places of worship.
Martens is in a better place than most, however, with one of the largest courtyards in the Okanagan. Between their partially closed terrace and the open terrace, they could accommodate 270 seats in front of the Covid. The provincial health ordinances now stipulate that the courtyards may only be filled up to halfway or with a total of 50 people, whichever is lower.
Even then, Martens is not sure that the guests will occupy these available spaces. His employees will likely have fewer hours due to reduced shifts and fewer tables to be occupied.
He said the government has undermined the trust it has gained from its customers as a safe place.
“The biggest challenges we face are getting restaurants painted with a brush, which is the root of all evil when it comes to dissemination, and that’s just the furthest from the truth.
“I’m not worried about seating for people. Just worry about people’s perception now that they think restaurants are unsafe because of the brush we were painted with. “
Effective immediately, the Kelowna Chamber said it was time to rally behind local businesses, especially restaurants.
“We know that quick action is needed to stem the dangerous upward trend, but the government needs to find a way to give companies more time to prepare for such large-scale contracts, which in this case, with less deadline than 12 hours will go into effect, “he said Dan Rogers, executive director of the Kelowna Chamber.
Rogers said more attention is needed to lessen the blow to restaurants.
– With files from Tom Fletcher
READ MORE: BC Stops Indoor Eating, Fitness, And Worship Services Due To COVID-19 Spikes
READ MORE: BC should help 20 to 39 year olds “just like we did for seniors” in the midst of the COVID wave: Fürstenau
Do you have anything to add to this story or anything else we should cover? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com
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