Windsor businesses welcome customers on first day of reopening
Restaurants with patios, salons and malls among approved list for reopening
Many Windsor businesses jumped at the chance to once again open their doors to customers Thursday, after the province cleared parts of the region to enter Stage 2 of reopening.
But on this first day of business, some owners are a bit unclear about the rules going froward.
"I'm still not crazy about Stage 2, I was going to put a tent up in the parking lot but have been told by the council people that that isn't allowed in Windsor," said Nick Politi, owner of Nico Taverna on Erie Street.
Politi said he was told any outdoors seating area's must be "open air" and that umbrellas are OK, but a tent is not. He's disappointed, because a tent unit in the restaurant's parking lot could have comfortably accommodated 50 or 60 guests.
"I'm going through with the patio even though under normal circumstances i probably wouldn't have had a patio because I've got lots of room inside."
Politi is hoping he'll be back in business by Friday night, and calls for patio reservations are pouring in already.
"It is better than it was. Hopefully a lot of the bylaw laws will loosen up ... we're definitely going to need the city to relax on some of their restrictions at least for now."
Under the province's Stage 2 plan, malls can reopen, restaurants and bars can serve customers outdoors, salons and barbershops can open, as well as swimming pools. The reopening applies to all areas in Essex County except for Leamington and Kingsville.
"We've had to completely revamp the salon," said Kim Spirou, owner of Salon Brush on Ottawa Street in Windsor. "We've had to remove two of our chairs, we actually moved our esthetics department over to my office."
Plastic dividers were put up in between hair stations, sanitizer is readily available, and Spirou said clients are also asked health questions and have their temperature taken. They also provide masks if a client forgets theirs.
"It used to be a fun social place however due to COVID-19 it unfortunately has to be less social," said Spirou, adding people will not be allowed to wait in the salon.
"We are taking extreme measures but I do think these measures are needed at this time."
Spirou said she and staff are still "so excited" to be back at work.
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said his team has been fielding dozens of calls from owners and operators, unsure about how to go forward.
Inspectors are now turning their attention to help educate and inform business owners to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place, Ahmed said.
Customers beginning to frequent businesses again
While eligible businesses begin taking steps to reopen, customers are also slowly emerging from isolation to frequent their favourite establishments.
Dawn Ferron said she decided to contact her friend Jamie Boissonneault for a meal at A Dog's Breakfast on Pelissier Street after finding out through Facebook that the restaurant is open.
Boissonneault said she initially wasn't sure if she would take advantage of Stage 2 reopenings, but explained she decided to go out after receiving Ferron's message
WATCH | Dawn Ferron talks about patio availability:
"I saw it and I [said] all right, I'm not going to say no," Boissonneault said. "I've been waiting too long."
Though some establishments have been given the greenlight to reopen, Ferron pointed out that circumstances are unfortunate for smaller venues, as well as those without patio permits.
"There are very few — especially in downtown Windsor — very few businesses that have patio availability, which is really unfortunate," she said. "I would like to see the city extend that to businesses who don't already have the patio, especially since they do that during Open Streets. They do that during special events."
As for the likelihood of Leamington and Kingsville residents coming to enjoy Windsor's Stage 2 status, Boissonneault said that "Windsor's about to be real busy."
WATCH | Jamie Boissonneault talks about being patient amid Stage 2 reopenings:
Both Ferron and Boissonneault urged members of the public taking advantage of reopening businesses to be patient, respectful of employees and safe.
"Be respectful of the people that work in the service industry and wear a mask if you able," Ferron said.
"If you are a healthy adult, you should know better and you need to wear masks to protect yourselves and everyone else."
With files from Chris Ensing and Kaitie Fraser