With Timmins and area preparing to move to Stage 3 of re-opening the economy, local bars and licensed establishments were focused on getting their ducks in a row before service begins on Friday.
This week’s announcement by the Porcupine Health Unit that masks or face coverings will be required in all enclosed public places, taking effect next Thursday, has added another wrinkle to the mix.
The Victory Tavern will be opening up on Friday, including live entertainment, but will have to abide by the 50-person maximum as set out by provincial guidelines.
“The tables will all have to be moved. I’ll have to have them all eight-feet apart,” said owner Randy Gattesco, whose establishment has a maximum legal capacity of 220.
“We’ll have to move probably 50 to 60 per cent of the tables out of the place.”
Other rules will include no dancing, or singing, as singing can only be done by entertainers. Patrons will have to remain seated at their tables for as much as possible. Nobody can sit at the bar. No mingling will be permitted and physical distancing is still strongly encouraged.
“If you’re going to the washroom even, you’ll have to put a facemask on. You won’t be able to leave the table without putting a mask on.”
Gattesco said he is spending approximately $1,000 on personal protective equipment and that disposable face masks and gloves will be available upon entry, free of charge.
“I’ll have a bunch of face shields if anybody wants them.”
Gattesco doesn’t exactly anticipate a human stampede to show up, even lamenting that the days of the traditional old style bars could be numbered. Fifty patrons is less than a quarter of his potential business on a good night.
“The last time I filled the bar was in December, so I mean, it’s not that you get 200 people all the time. It’s not like the pre-cellphone era when I had 220 to 250 there every single Friday night, and Saturdays I had lineups out the door. Those days are gone,” he said.
Regarding bar games such as billiards, Gattesco isn’t sure how that will work just yet, but said facemasks will be required.
Despite the tough days ahead for his business, he said he doesn’t care for the social media uproar from some locals regarding the PHU’s facemask order.
“People are just so petty, it’s unbelievable.”
Many will be pleased to know that karaoke will be taking place on Saturday, with rules in place. Next week, Gattesco said karaoke will likely take place from Wednesday through Saturday for those itching to belt out a classic. Moving forward, each Saturday afternoon The Vic will have live country entertainment from 3 to 7 p.m.
“Basically, we’re going to have a roped-off area for the singers.”
Meanwhile, local craft brewer Full Beard Brewing will continue service, but only on its outdoor patio.
“We decided not to open our tap room yet,” said owner Jonathan St. Pierre.
“There’s just a lot of unknowns, and our staff aren’t ready for it yet.”
St. Pierre said they are aiming for a possible Tuesday opening of the tap room, but a few things are still up in the air.
“It’s summertime. We’re not going to open up our tap room. People can hang out on the patio. It’s a little easier for our staff right now, to maintain that.”
He is awaiting further information from the Porcupine Health Unit, including details on whether or not they could serve at weddings, banquets and other events.
St. Pierre knows people will be wanting to get out and experience a bit of normalcy, but also realizes that patio life isn’t for everyone.
“Some people like the outdoors. Some people don’t — probably why we lost a lot of our customers who don’t want to sit outside. They’d rather be indoors. But also, we’re not a bar.”
Regarding the west end’s Compass Brewing, owner Kevin Patriquin is still working with his team to iron out the details.
“We are working hard to come up with a game plan to open up soon. It may not be this Friday, we want to make sure we have everything right before we do, we will make a formal announcement when our tap room reopens,” he said.
Patriquin did provide some insight as to what guests can likely expect.
“Guests will be asked to wear masks when entering, and roaming around the premises. When they are seated they will be then permitted to remove the mask and proceed to drink and eat at their table. They are then required to don the mask again to proceed payment at the bar and vacate the premise. After each and every client, the area is sanitized for another client, we will be providing hand sanitizer to all customers as well. Take-out clients will be asked to wear a mask the entire visit as well. Social distancing protocols will still remain in place.”
Over at The Surge Sports Lounge, plans are also to resume service on Friday, and face masks will be mandatory.
“I’m sure a lot of people will go get their own, which we’re hoping for. If not, I’ll charge a minimal fee at the door to get them in,” said owner Kim Pellerin-Donovan, acknowledging that it is a tough time for everyone.
“I know people are up in arms about it. I’m at a point where customer and staff safety has to be No. 1. So if this is what they think we should be doing, then we do it. It’s been a long four months for everybody.”
She said the 50 patron cap will be a hindrance to her business, as the maximum capacity is 256, but views the situation from an earnest perspective.
“See, I’m torn. As the manager here, of course we want to make money, but I’m wondering if this lower number is to get things off the ground, to get people used to social distancing, and the tables being further apart.
“You’re still allowed groups of 10. I mean, which only gives us five tables of 10. I’m not sure what their reasoning is,” said Pellerin-Donovan, adding that perhaps a system based on percentage of maximum occupancy would have been a little more fair for those with larger establishments.
Mingling will be strongly discouraged, but she knows it will be a challenge to keep up with. Patrons will have to wear their facemasks at all times, except when seated at their table.
Regarding darts and pool, only those within social bubbles will be permitted. Pool cues will be sanitized after each use.
“Darts, no.”
Pellerin-Donovan is also awaiting further instructions from the PHU, and said she appreciates the efforts they are putting in to avoid another spike in positive cases of COVID-19 in the area.
She said it’s been a tough year for bar owners already, and will likely continue, but is also unimpressed with some of the angry local reaction to recent health protocols.
“Let’s be honest, it doesn’t matter what rule you put into play, somebody isn’t going to be happy. You’re going to have those unhappy people. I feel that if we’re keeping our customers and our staff safe, and if we can stop another outbreak from happening, it’s worth it,” said Pellerin-Donovan.
“Let’s wait and see what happens, and if we can keep it clear until Christmas, I’m sure things will change.”
