Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The Municipality of Jasper has allowed sidewalk seating earlier than expected due to the province banning indoor dining earlier this month.
Downstream Restaurant and Lounge is one of the restaurants that has already set up sidewalk seating, having also done so last year.
鈥淚 think there were a lot of people who were hesitant,鈥� said Soto Korogonas, owner of Downstream.
鈥淓verybody is a little bit sensitive about overgrowth and becoming like Banff. We don鈥檛 want to be like Banff, but at the same time, times change, things change. People need to be able to experiment and try new things for our community, and I think that these patios prove that sometimes change is good.鈥�
Originally set to launch May 1, the program is meant to provide more space for businesses to operate within the current health regulations.
As of April 16, the municipality has received 17 applications for the summer season.
Most businesses taking advantage of the program are restaurants that want customer seating, although they can also apply to use public space for retail displays.
Korogonas said they had pushed for sidewalk seating to be allowed in the parking lane in order to avoid blocking the windows of retail stores.
Downstream is now looking for clarification when it came to coverings.
鈥淲e feel like without coverings the patios are really a waste of investment and time,鈥� Korogonas said.
鈥淲e live in the mountain parks and last year we had a really beautiful summer, but I think we counted 13 days of inclement weather and those were absolute loss days where we had to pay staff. There was no revenue.鈥�
He added that neighbouring businesses helped him get approval for sidewalk seating and how patio seating benefited these businesses by promoting foot traffic.
Lynn Wannop, who owns Coco鈥檚 Caf茅 with her husband Andrew, said their business utilizes a wooden walkway that goes into the parking lane and diverts pedestrian traffic around the sidewalk seating in front of their business.
Dana Ruddy Construction built the walkway, which cost upwards of $5,000, but Wannop assured that it was worth every penny.
鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 have been able to survive without (sidewalk seating),鈥� she said.
This setup was originally recommended by Parks Canada鈥檚 planning and development advisory committee, although it is not logically possible for all businesses.
The Jasper Brewing Co. has hosted sidewalk seating for the past five years, but seating in parking lanes came in last year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely helping keep places afloat, and keeping people employed is the big thing too in Jasper,鈥� said Justin Melnyk, general manager of the Jasper Brewing Co.
鈥淛ust dealing with the restrictions internally in the restaurant with COVID, we just need as many seats as possible for people to dine in because you have a short window of time to feed people, and if you鈥檙e restricted inside and outside, it makes it kind of difficult.鈥�
Melnyk said he would like to see the program continue post-pandemic, noting businesses would need a specified 鈥渃oncrete motif鈥� for sidewalk seating should this occur.
The Jasper Brewing Co. helps mitigate the changing weather patterns through patio heaters and other methods, but Melnyk said customers generally enjoyed eating outside.
鈥淧eople love sitting outside, gives them a great chance to get a good view of the mountains,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why they鈥檙e here. They鈥檙e here for the views. There鈥檚 lots of great-looking restaurants inside, but people want to be able to enjoy the mountains and the view and sit outside. Alberta has a small window when you can enjoy dining outside.鈥�
