'Even 50 per cent, we will take it': Ottawa restaurants prepare to reopen for indoor dining on Monday
Businesses in Ottawa are preparing for easing restrictions on Monday, including restaurants who will welcome back diners inside for the first time since Jan. 4.
"We are excited! The best part about reopening is employing our servers because they take hardest hit in lockdowns," says Jennifer Wall, owner of Supply and Demand restaurant on Wellington Street.
The regulations come into effect on Jan. 31 as the province enters the first of three reopening stages. On Monday, movie theatres, meeting rooms and event spaces will be able to operate with 50 per cent capacity indoors. The same goes for indoor restaurants, bars, retailers, museums, and religious services.
Wall says the restaurant will be able to rehire most of the staff, except for a few part-time employees. She says the restaurant is ready, as they have continued to offer take-out during the lockdown.
"Half capacity is tough on restaurants. Because what you end up doing is trying to do the takeout and dine in, and that’s hard to do when you are trying to execute both flawlessly as if you are only doing one," said Wall.
She hopes patrons can consider making a reservation at local restaurants at non-peak hours, to help businesses build back.
"The biggest thing that is a struggle especially in the winter, whether it is a lockdown or not, is keep the flow even, every day of the week."
Wall says they are already booked for Fridays and Saturdays.
"The reality is those book up three-four weeks in advance especially with half capacity, but our Tuesdays and Wednesdays are looking for more on those nights," said Wall. "Just spreading out the support on all the nights of the week instead of just Fridays and Saturdays. I know a lot of other restaurants echo that feeling."
Other restaurants who were able to do take-out during the lockdown are hopeful business will return.
"No income is no income and that’s got to hurt," says Tony Hatoum with John’s Diner. "Even the 50 per cent capacity, we will take it!"
"I think with our safe, comfortable environment that we can provide for them; they will be more than anxious to come into our restaurants, and we are more than happy to embrace them!"
Hatoum says the next couple of days will be busy to get everything ready.
"In terms of busy, supplies are going to be coming in, we are going to have deliveries, we are going to be outsourcing some products ourselves, so for the public it starts Monday, but we have three or four days ahead full on, working to get ourselves in order," he says.
In addition to capacity limits, patrons will still need to show proof of vaccination. However, on Thursday Ontario’s chief medical officer of health announced some businesses no longer need to do contact tracing.
"Our key goal with public health right now is to protect our most vulnerable sectors," said Moore.
Moore says individuals must monitor for symptoms.
"Given Omicron transmissibility there is an ongoing risk in our communities, and we must individually try to reduce our risk over time by taking appropriate measures, getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, distancing, good hand hygiene, monitoring for symptoms- those will keep us protected."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Poilievre-led government 'would never' use notwithstanding clause on abortion, his office says
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
BREAKING 6 injured in Sharbot Lake, Ont. crash; 2 in life-threatening condition
Ontario Provincial Police say six people have suffered severe injuries in a single-vehicle crash in Sharbot Lake, Ont, including two in life-threatening condition.