Some Richmond restaurants say B.C.’s latest COVID-19 restrictions will hurt their bottom line – but the “silver lining” is being able to stay open.
The measures include maximum tables of six people as well as physical distancing for restaurants, pubs and cafes.
Customers must remain seated and cannot mingle between tables.
A staff member at Britannia Brewing Company in Steveston told the Richmond News on Wednesday that its small restaurant had to cancel 11 holiday reservations due to the new measures.
They said it was “frustrating” that the restaurant can’t have any larger groups, particularly when the staff and customers are all fully vaccinated, and the restaurant has been vigilant about COVID-19 safety.
“Steveston, in particular for Richmond, is very seasonal. This is our off-season. So we kind of really need to make that capital to make sure that we’re going to be open for the following summer season,” said the staff member.
The last-minute restrictions also result in a lot of food waste, according to the employee, as the restaurant purchases enough to cover those larger waves of customers.
“We were planning on doing drinks features through the week. We had purchased extra meat, seafood. We were fully-stocked because usually the couple days leading up to Christmas, we can actually get a bit of a push, especially with everybody staying in town this year,” they said.
“So, we were going to expect a little bit of a busy week and now, not so much.”
While Steveston Built Local Taphouse isn’t “overly affected” by the restrictions, the restaurant’s revenues will take a hit, said owner Justin Brow.
“It will have a big impact on us for sure. It won’t hurt us as far as us being able to run, but we do see a big dip in just people not being comfortable coming out,” he said.
The restaurant has, for example, already seen some larger groups cancel their reservations in the last few weeks.
However, the “silver lining,” said Brow, is that so far restaurants aren’t being forced to close.
“We’ve been through this before, so we kind of have the playbook from last time,” he said.
It would have been “way too much” if restaurants had been forced to close, according to the Britannia Brewing staff member, who also agreed it’s a saving grace that restaurants could remain open.
“At the end of the day, it is to keep everybody safe,” they said. “We’re ready for everything to go back to normal, but again, we’re all on the same page in saying that we’re just going to keep nose to the grindstone, keep going…and hope and pray that we won’t have to do this next Christmas.”
The province is imposing the restrictions in response to the more transmissible omicron variant and surging COVID-19 case counts – B.C. reported a record 1,474 new cases on Wednesday.
Cases have also been on the rise in Richmond, with 120 new infections detected between Dec. 13 and 19, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.
Under the new restrictions, bars and nightclubs, as well as gyms, dance studios and fitness centres must close. Indoor organized gatherings, such as New Year's Eve parties, wedding receptions or other celebrations, also aren't allowed. Indoor seated events such as concerts, sports and movies are reduced to 50 per cent capacity.
The restrictions come into place at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night and will last until Jan. 18, 2022.
