‘I just felt normal’

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This article was published 13/03/2021 (1663 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You could say it was the luck of the Irish coming a few days before St. Patrick’s Day for many restaurant patio owners across the city.

After pandemic restrictions in place since last October prevented Manitobans from going to a restaurant or licensed premise and sitting down with someone other than their family, Saturday was the first day people could sit with up to five friends from different households at a table on an outdoor patio.

And, coupled with Mother Nature bringing sunshine and a high of 9 C, Winnipeggers across the city filled the physically distanced tables and chairs on patios across the city while owners and staff quickly wiped down tables and took orders.

“I’m here with my best friend who I haven’t seen for a little while,” said Rheann Brownstone shortly after quaffing the first draft beer she has had since last summer on the outdoor patio facing Corydon Avenue at Bar Italia.

“Actually, it has been a few months — I haven’t seen her since December. Before this we would see each other a couple of times a week. It’s a little normalcy in a crazy world.”

Brownstone’s first sit down restaurant meal in months? “A hamburger — you can’t just make them good enough at home as they are fresh from the grill.”

Over at Fionn’s Winnipeg, in the Grant Park Shopping Centre parking lot, Shane Falk drove a few kilometres so he could have his first patio experience in months.

“I live in Morden and I drove in to see a couple of friends on the patio and enjoy the day,” said Falk.

“It has been months since I’ve seen them and, before the pandemic, I would usually see them every week or couple of weeks — we’ve got a lot of catching up to do. And it kind of feels like the pandemic or COVID isn’t around for a couple of hours.”

Across at another table, Jasmine Arnold was with her husband, their dog Remington, and her husband’s brother and his wife that they haven’t seen across a table in weeks.

“It just felt normal,” said Arnold. “It was like the good old times like last summer. Even our puppy loved it.”

Jay Kilgour, Fionn’s general manager and franchisee, said he’s especially happy the decision was made before St. Patrick’s Day so people can come celebrate this Wednesday.

“For an Irish pub, we didn’t get a St. Patrick’s Day last year because we had to close because of the pandemic,” said Kilgour. “We will have the Irish music going on Wednesday.

“We were able to have the patio open last weekend, but that was only for household members at each table — there wasn’t as much excitement as this.”

Kilgour said they went out and bought new heaters, filled the propane tanks and measured out safe distances so they are more than ready for this year’s patio season.

Across the parking lot, at the Pony Corral, manager Chantal Roncin said within a few minutes of opening three of the eight outdoor tables were already filled.

“People drive by the mall and they see the patio and they’ll come in,” she said. “It’s nice out — I even saw someone wearing shorts outside.”

Shaun Jeffrey, executive director of the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association, said it would have been nice for restaurant owners to have had more notice than Friday afternoon about the change for patios, but they are pleased the day had finally come.

“It’s a small light on the end of a very long tunnel,” said Jeffrey, adding the best thing was the collaboration the restaurant sector had with the government this time.

“They are trying to do what they can to help, even if it’s small wins.”

The only downside to a glorious day? Not every patio in the city can open yet.

Over at the Langside Grocery, just north of Westminster Avenue, the patio heaters are outside and ready, but the patio isn’t.

Langside manager Rae Vesa said they were thrilled to hear on Friday patios could open to people other than household members.

“I was so excited,” said Vesa. “I contacted the owners and we shovelled off the patio, but then we checked our license and found we can’t open the patio until April 1, and I got back to the owners and said ‘never mind’.”

Turns out, owners of permanent patios that connect to restaurants are covered by existing licenses, but temporary ones aren’t allowed to open until April 1.

“It isn’t an April Fool’s Day joke, but on the other hand, this whole year has been an April Fool’s Day joke,” said Vesa.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca