Local restaurants grapple with change of restrictions

Connelly joked he had never rewritten a floor plan so many times, and nobody knows what the table numbers even are anymore.

Earls is one of the restaurants trying to start patio season earlier than normal in Northern BC, Connelly says staff have moved tables around with plexiglass in close proximities to try and keep everyone warm.

Then there are others, who don’t have the option to open a patio, now forced to a delivery and takeout model only.

Trench Brewing on the end of second avenue downtown fit into a subcategory of the restrictions, specific to breweries without a full menu.

Even if the brewery had a patio, they would not be able to open under the restrictions.

But overall, the biggest challenge is dealing with staff, restaurants are torn on what to do, Trench says they, unfortunately, had to lay off 13 team members.

Earls was worried about how they could manage to keep all of their workers, often younger ones employed.

When Premier John Horgan was asked Monday afternoon if there was going to be support for those put out of work in the hospitality industry, there was nothing new to offer.

Horgan spoke about supports like the eviction bans and BC’s Recovery Benefit which won’t be of any help if you had claimed it already.

The Premier only added the minister responsible was “on it.”

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Monday the restrictions would be in place for three weeks, until April 21 subject to change.

Restaurants are hopeful these restrictions will only last three weeks but worry about an extension.

Until then, patio season for those who can is a go, for others, it will be a creative task to see what their next moves can be to try and meet their bottom line.

The Prince George Chamber of Commerce says they will be asking for more support from the province.

by Caden Fanshaw

Local restaurants grapple with change of restrictions

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