Pembroke, Ont. planning for summer with pop-up patio pilot project
With the snow recently melted, Pembroke, Ont. now has preparations underway for the summer season and plans to bring three pop-up patios to the downtown core.
The three patio locations would be on Victoria Street, Albert Street, and at 258-262 Pembroke Street W.
"So the trend really has started with COVID-19 and the need for people wanting to eat outdoors in these communally areas," says Bethea Summers, Executive Director of the Pembroke BIA.
Each patio would be boxed in with railings, be covered with a shade canopy, and have bistro-style seating for eight to 12 people.
Summers says the pop-up patios would provide public sitting areas for pedestrians and outdoor dining space for nearby restaurants.
"We do have about 15 eateries in our downtown core and a few of them do have patios," Summers tells CTV News Ottawa. "They have great patios that are often full. And then we have some that are smaller and there's just nowhere for them to put a patio."
At Little Things Canning Company, one block away from Albert Street, owner Stacy Taylor says their 'grab and go' business model of ready to eat food pairs perfectly with the pop-up patios.
But Little Things Canning Company has room for just two tables and four chairs along the sidewalk outside their storefront.
"We could also benefit from having the expansion of the downtown patios in strategically placed locations throughout our community," says Taylor.
Like the coming season, the patio idea seems to be getting a warm reception from residents.
"That would be awesome, especially when the nicer weather is here, you like to enjoy it," says lifelong Pembroke resident Jennifer Shainline.
"I'm a sales rep, I meet with customers," Shainline adds. "It would be a good spot to sit or just have a coffee, or just take a break through the day."
Stacy says if the city and businesses want more people frequenting downtown, they have to do more to make the area pedestrian-friendly.
"I think that the downtown pop-up patios can only do more to enhance the beautification aspect of our downtown," says the business owner.
"Our downtown core has close to 1,000 employees," says Summers. "So that's a lot of people that can meet their friends or family or coworkers, get outside of the office, and eat downtown."
Summers says the pilot project would begin around the end of May and be in place until Thanksgiving weekend.
The Pembroke BIA says final approval for the project goes before city council next Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
BREAKING 15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia's legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.