COVID-19: Patio relaunch causes confusion + uncertainty

🕒 11.5 min read

At first glance, it appears things are moving ahead for restaurants, bars and cafes. News that they were finally allowed to relaunch patios last week, since being closed for dine-in service since March 17, elated patrons.  While it does offer customers a chance to dine out again - with social distancing protocols in place - the good news is accompanied with a lot of confusion.

Take CaféTO, for example. The program permitting restaurants and bars to install or expand a sidewalk or curb lane café quickly, started accepting applications two weeks ago, but was only approved by City Council a few days ago, leaving restaurants and bars scrambling to get set up in time for Canada Day.Mayor John Tory says over 400 applications have been approved, with more in the works. But as Toronto establishments work to transform their spaces to accommodate al fresco dining, the numbers are not encouraging.

Minority report

According to Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, there are currently 8,000 restaurants. Of those, 660 operate outdoor sidewalk cafés and patios on public property, with 542 on private property. The math on this is simple: 6,798 - or 85 per cent - of establishments in Toronto do not have outdoor seating at all.

And those that do, are extremely limited. Ginger Roberston, co-owner with husband Russ Piffer of Broadview and Danforth eateries The Edmund Burke and Off The Hook Fishbar, has been speaking out in the media regarding the obstacles she’s face with the patio program. She’s currently not permitted to use the large space behind the bar, and with social distancing measures in place, she could only squeeze in one table in the front patio, so she built a counter with room for three customers out front. Mike Waite, owner of Mike’s Music Store next door, graciously let her use his curb-side space, so she could add three tables. But this limited seating, available at only one of her locations, won’t bring in close to enough money to cover rent and expenses.

While the program includes curb lane closures to allow partial seating on the street, Robertson is calling on Mayor Tory to step up and expand the options further, including build out to the curb. Closing down streets to traffic to allow businesses to offer patios is being done in cities across the U.S. and here in Canada – Victoria approved a proposal for changes a month ago, and cities on Canada’s east coast are considering it. Canadian traffic and transportation engineering company Trans-Plan, has proposed a similar option. Robertson implores the city: If you’re serious about helping hospitality owners, “Let us build patios wherever we can.” 

Earlier today, establishments previously prohibited to open outdoor areas if covered, were granted permission. The government amended an emergency order “to clarify that outdoor dining areas can open if they have a roof, canopy, tent, awning or other covering.”

Patios unmasked

As restaurants reopen patios, some businesses are upholding social distancing protocols, while others are not. And the murky guidelines aren’t helping. A Framework for Reopening our Province: Stage 2 states “Establishments must take appropriate measures to ensure physical distancing of at least two metres between patrons from different households, including: Using reservations,” while Toronto Public Health’s COVID-19 Guidelines for Re-Opening your Restaurant, revised on June 26, reads, “Consider reservations only.” So it comes as no surprise that businesses are forgoing resos and implementing a “first come, first served” policy, which can result in lineups and crowding along the sidewalk.

Playing music is allowed, yet the regulations stipulate: “No dancing or singing may be permitted in the outdoor dining areas.” Despite this strong stance on entertainment, masks are not compulsory, even under the new Mandatory Mask or Face Covering Bylaw coming into effect July 7. Areas not covered in said bylaw include:

- Restaurant/bar outdoor dining areas
- Kitchen that is physically separated from the dining area and not accessible to the public
- Outdoor areas at farmers’ markets

Risky business

Which brings up the matter of safety both for staff and customers. While many establishments are taking every precaution to keep workers and diners safe, it’s up to each business to determine the protocols they’ll follow outside of present guidelines and by-laws. Kirstine Reid, a server for four years currently working at a downtown restaurant, writes in Serving in a Corona World, “I feel like a lot of people are putting ALL sanitation responsibility on the restaurant staff and there is only so much we can do.” She urges customers to sanitize their hands “as much as we are.”   

Currently, servers are not required by law to wear masks. Pre-pandemic, patrons were banned from entering businesses without a shirt or shoes. A mask worn to protect both customers and workers against a deadly disease that doesn’t qualify at least as essential is mystifying.

Industry workers feel vulnerable and unsafe in current conditions and are putting their lives on the line simply by serving food and drinks. Thus, despite the loss of income at a time when businesses are facing their biggest challenge, many establishments remain closed. One of the city’s most celebrated spots, Bar Raval, is “absolutely not opening until we're ready,” as stated on their Instagram profile. That sentiment is shared by another popular haunt, Godspeed Brewery. Owner Luc "Bim" Lafontaine posted a message on social media on June 23. It reads in part, “After careful consideration, we have made the necessary decision to keep our patio closed for the time being despite the city's move to Phase 2. Our intent remains to keep staff and patrons safe and we feel it's in everyone's best interest to continue to strictly offer beer-to-go.” These represent a small sampling of businesses that have made the decision not to reopen at this time. 

Weather or not 

Toronto’s patio season is famously short – four, five months, tops. Add in weather conditions, and it becomes even shorter. If it’s too hot or windy, being out on a terrace isn’t ideal. And if it’s raining? Forget about it. 

This week’s +30 temperatures adversely affected business. Early July is usually replete with patio-goers, but the combination of intense heat and COVID-19 restrictions led many to remain in air conditioned comfort indoors. And there’s more in store. According to The Weather Network’s Meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham, this summer’s forecast includes “extended periods of hot, sunny and dry weather” in July and August throughout Ontario, and thunderstorms “which could be locally excessive.”

By the numbers

Patios, with their limited space, capacity, and operational window, are not enough to sustain restaurants and similar businesses through the pandemic.

While the possibility of Stage 3 - which would include the return of restaurant and bar dining rooms and indoor seating - seems near, the swift closure after reopening of businesses across the States indicates otherwise. California, Texas and Florida and other have had to shutter operations again. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week the city won’t allow indoor dining anytime soon due to the rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the states. As Toronto is the fourth largest city in North America and the country’s most populated city - home to more than 2.9 million people - it’s likely takeout and delivery are here for the foreseeable future, with limited patio seating this summer.

According to Restaurants Canada, there more than 97,000 across Canada; 9,342 restaurants, caterers and bars in Toronto alone. Based on a survey they conducted with foodservice operators across the country from June 1-7, the current state of the Canadian restaurant industry is grim:

- 24% of single-unit foodservice operators are open for on-premise dining and 28% of multi-unit operators have at least one location open for on-premise dining.
- 47% of single-unit operators are open only for takeout and/or delivery and 62% of multi-unit operators have at least one location open only for takeout and/or delivery.
- 3% of single-unit operators are still temporarily shut down completely and 28% of multi-unit operators have at least one location still temporarily shut down completely.
- The remainder said they either have permanently closed their doors for good already, run a seasonal operation that has not opened yet for the year, or have permanently closed some locations, but not all of them.
- Most restaurants are still losing money: 6 out of 10 foodservice businesses are operating at a loss; 22% of single-unit operators and 15% of multi-unit operators said they are just breaking even.

And restaurants are reporting mixed results after opening for on-premise dining:
- Fewer than half (31% of single-unit operators and 43% of multi-unit operators) said doing so has had a positive impact on their operations.
- More than a third (47% of single-unit operators and 39% of multi-unit operators) said the impact on their operations has been negative.
- The remainder reported no impact or said it’s still too soon to assess.

It is imperative that the City of Toronto allow restaurants and similar businesses to expand patios into the streets during this time. The city must come to their aid if they’re to survive the summer. 

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