Patios or bust: restaurateurs and craft brewers anxiously await approvals for more outdoor space
With warm weather already here, operators want governments to loosen patio restrictions as soon as possible
The patio — that bastion of good times and summer fun — is now a matter of life and death for some Vancouver restaurateurs and craft brewers who are anxiously awaiting news that could either breathe life into their businesses, or push the final nail into the coffin.
"If the patio doesn't happen then we will have much less of a chance of survival," said Terry Brown, co-owner of Container Brewing in Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood.
"For our particular brewery, it would make a very large difference."
Container doesn't have a patio because the City of Vancouver doesn't currently allow them at craft breweries, unlike other beer hotspots like Port Moody and North Vancouver.
With a large, fenced-in parking area at the ready, Brown figures he could easily move some of his tasting room seating outdoors. That would allow for physical distancing throughout the operation required by COVID-19 restrictions, while accommodating the maximum number customers allowed.
On Tuesday night, the first hurdle in the patio quest appeared to be cleared.
Vancouver city council unanimously approved a motion calling for more flexible, innovative and expedited patio permitting. It specifically addressed the plight of breweries and city staff are now working out the details.
But Brown says the next step is even more crucial: getting B.C.'s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch to work with municipalities to make patios happen as soon as possible.
"We do need a coordinated response," he said. "We need the province to step up and meet Vancouver."
While Container waits to hear if it will get the go-ahead, others businesses are urgently wanting to expand patios that already exist.
Jesse Sugarman, co-owner of The Charlatan on Commercial Drive, says the future of his 13-year-old restaurant depends on it.
"If you have a 50-seat restaurant and then [because of COVID-19 restrictions] you're limited to 25 seats, you can't generate enough income to stay afloat," he said.
Move over cars
Sugarman wants to add to his existing 36-seat patio by taking over the two parking spaces at the side of the restaurant, something that is already allowed during special events like Italian Day and Car Free Day.
"I'm really happy that the city has voted to push [the patio motion] through, that's an excellent first step. Now it's just about making sure that we can execute as quickly as possible."
Like Brown, Sugarman would like start construction on his new patio pronto in order to take full advantage of the warming weather.
He says laid-off staff are also desperate for quick decisions on the matter.
"If we have another 25 seats outside that means I can put an extra five servers to work throughout the week. So now we can hire people back, more people can make money and more people can come to the restaurant. It just kick starts everything."
On Wednesday, Attorney General David Eby, whose portfolio includes the liquor and cannabis regulation branch, said he would make an announcement about patios as soon as possible.