Back in business

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This article was published 22/06/2021 (1185 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Saturday is shaping up to be a grand opening for local businesses.

Stores can host more customers, restaurants can serve patrons inside, patios can reopen, gyms can switch on the lights again.

This reopening, unlike previous ones, comes with exclusive privileges for Manitobans who have been double-vaccinated.

On Wednesday, many business owners expressed relief about the impending loosening of restrictions.

 

Restaurants:

Sachit Mehra, owner and manager of the East India Company downtown, looks forward to the day when patrons can once again line up to scoop up food at the restaurant’s buffet.

For now, Mehra is pleased patrons can not only sit down at a table on the patio overlooking a Japanese garden, but also have a choice of asking for a table inside.

“What a terrific announcement,” said Mehra on Wednesday.

“We are elated and we are excited. I think this is the right balance between opening and keeping an abundance of caution.”

Bars and restaurants have been particularly hard hit by public health orders during the pandemic.

Starting Saturday, provincial health officials will allow restaurants and bars to open at 25 per cent capacity for indoor dining and drinking, and 50 per cent for outdoor dining.

People who sit outdoors can have eight at a table, including people from different households — whether they are vaccinated or not.

People from different households must be double-vaccinated in order to dine indoors.

Shaun Jeffrey, executive director of the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association, said the news is “what we’ve been begging for, for months now.

“We know there is a balance between public health and safety and this is a good example of that balance.”

Jeffrey said it is the first step for restaurants — which have relied on take-out, pick up and delivery services for months — to be able to begin turning a profit.

“Right now, the average restaurant in Manitoba is $86,000 in debt,” he said. “Multiply that by the thousands of restaurants here.

“We need restaurants to get into the black and out of the red. This is a good day for our industry.”

 

 

Personal services:

Meghan Greenlay, a hair stylist with Menagerie Beauty and Goods on Osborne Street, said she and her colleagues are sorting out hours of work to ensure they comply with new public health orders as of Saturday.

Personal services – whether it is a hair or nail salon – can reopen, but will be limited to 50 per cent of capacity. No walk-in customers will be allowed.

“We have a small space and aren’t rushing to overfill the space,” said Greenlay. “We might rest comfortably somewhere in between 25 to 50 per cent.

“We are still asking that clients come alone.”

Greenlay said the staff is looking forward to getting back to work.

“On a personal note, I’m excited to see my favourite people for an hour or two at a time,” she said.

“I have six weeks of cancelled appointments, a waiting list, and general bookings. Everyone wants in, but I’m very thankful for the 46 texts.”

 

Gyms and Fitness centres:

Dino Camire, owner of One Family Fitness, said it would be better if they could open at half-capacity, but “we’re always elated when we can reopen.”

People haven’t been able to go to a gym or fitness centre for weeks – stationary bikes, treadmills, and weight machines have been sitting empty since April.

Starting Saturday, they will be allowed to reopen at 25 per cent capacity. Patrons must stay three metres apart whether as they exercise.

“I will be able to get nine in my space when normally I would have 30 to 40 people there,” he said. “This is the slow time of year for gyms and the financial supports from the government will be gone. It’s pretty scary.

“We’re 16 months into the pandemic and we still don’t have any fitness-specific grants.”

Stephanie Jeffrey, executive director of the Manitoba Fitness Council, said they are excited about the chance to reopen.

“We’ve been closed almost 280 days in the last year. We’ve had to use parks and outdoor spaces. Hopefully, this is the end of closures.”

Jeffrey said they have heard from Manitobans who miss being able to exercise in a gym.

“People are prepared to get back,” she said.

“A gym has an environment where you feed off the energy of others. To get back in the gym and have that camaraderie and support from others is wonderful.”

 

Dance, theatre and music schools:

At the River Heights School of Music, the sounds have not been silent — but they have been generated elsewhere.

Provincial restrictions prohibited in-person music lessons, so teachings have been conducted online.

Robert Burton is looking forward to seeing his first pupil in person on Saturday morning.

“They are full of yippee and happy to be coming in,” said Burton.

“We’ve already let all of our customers know they can finish off their year with an in-person lesson. I’m excited to be able to get back to business.”

Burton said summer is not a boom time for music lessons.

“Typically, our busy time is September to June,” he said.

Even if the province increases capacity limits, it doesn’t mean more people will be able to get music lessons.

“It would just mean more parents could come to watch a lesson.”

Burton said even after the pandemic, some students will continue to take lessons online.

“I have a student in Teulon who was coming in before, but I don’t think we will ever see them here again,” he said.

“I have other students in Switzerland and Cambridge, or is it Oxford?”

At the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, spokeswoman Jocelyn Unrau said the company appreciates the sacrifices Manitobans have made to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“While challenges are still before us, today’s announcement of loosened restrictions are encouraging,” said Unrau.

“We will continue to assess the situation and closely follow all public health recommendations and guidelines. We have both digital and in-person dance training opportunities planned for the summer and are optimistic around delivering these programs.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca