Patio season will arrive sooner than expected in Salmon Arm this spring as restaurants cope with the province91裸聊视频檚 latest health restrictions.

On Monday, March 29, the B.C. government announced that over the next three weeks. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry explained this measure was in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

While indoor dining was put on hold, outdoor restaurant patio seating was still permitted.

The unexpected news prompted two downtown Salmon Arm restaurateurs to contact the city about pushing up the opening date for downtown sidewalk patios. The city91裸聊视频檚 sidewalk caf茅 extension program permits the removable structures between May 1 and Oct. 31.

Mayor Alan Harrison was supportive of amending the timeline to accommodate the earlier opening of downtown business91裸聊视频� patios. First, he said the city needed to get the streets swept, which would be done as soon as possible.

91裸聊视频淚 know that council is very supportive of patios, both for the vibe they create and for the safe seating they provide for patrons,91裸聊视频� said Harrison.

Hanoi 36 and the Shuswap Pie Company were the first downtown Salmon Arm businesses to take advantage of the city91裸聊视频檚 sidewalk caf茅 extension program in 2020. The owners of both were grateful for the outdoor seating option amid last year91裸聊视频檚 varying pandemic restrictions.

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Michael Vu, the owner of Hanoi 36, said he contacted the city right after Monday91裸聊视频檚 announcement.

91裸聊视频淚f we need to clean outside on the street, we91裸聊视频檒l do it just to get the patio back out. Because it91裸聊视频檚 hurting us right now,91裸聊视频� commented Vu, who was upset with how B.C. restaurant owners received little advanced notice from the province.

91裸聊视频淚 just got $500 worth of meat 91裸聊视频� that might not be much, but for a little business like myself91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 just like wow, what are we going to do now?91裸聊视频� Vu said with a laugh.

Barley Station Brew Pub91裸聊视频檚 Stu Bradford could empathize.

91裸聊视频淭his is quite a blow to all of us. Everybody is ramping up, we91裸聊视频檝e got big food orders coming in, and the whole no notice thing again, that91裸聊视频檚 kind of annoying,91裸聊视频� said Bradford who, despite the upset, was able to maintain a positive tone.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 on the outside 91裸聊视频� on the inside I91裸聊视频檓 pretty torn up,91裸聊视频� said Bradford who was dismayed to see what appeared to be a return to 91裸聊视频渘ormal91裸聊视频� suddenly diminish.

Despite the possibility the three-week stoppage on in-house dining could be extended, Bradford noted customers were already using the pub91裸聊视频檚 attached patio, and he was optimistic the community would continue to show its support. Vu and Tovah Shantz at the Shuswap Pie Company also had a positive outlook for the summer ahead.

91裸聊视频淲e have wholesale, we sell to grocery stores, we have a lot of other stuff other than dine in. We91裸聊视频檙e lucky that way,91裸聊视频� said Shantz, keen to get her sidewalk patio up and running again.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to manage,91裸聊视频� said Vu. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been through it before91裸聊视频� We don91裸聊视频檛 know how business is going to flow at this point but we91裸聊视频檙e going to try to keep everyone on staff and make sure no one loses their jobs or gets their hours cut down.91裸聊视频�