Victoria city council will soon make a decision about whether to keep temporary patios throughout the city going through the winter.
Businesses say the patios have been bringing in critical business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s probably brought in another 20 per cent sales that we wouldn’t have,” said general manager and part-owner of Yates Street Taphouse, Dan Lau.
“It has brought in people that wouldn’t normally come in who feel a lot safer sitting outside, so it’s definitely helped us.”
The business is planning on putting in a permanent cover for the patio and others are also looking at making changes, as they hope Victoria city council passes a motion to keep the project.
“It has been a huge success,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps.
“We are getting letters from businesses with support to keep it going, letters from the DVBA [Downtown Victoria Business Association], from the restaurant association. It’s one of the silver linings of this pandemic, I have put forward a motion to expand in principal the program and call on the province. It really does depend on the province.”
“The deadline for the patios is coupled with the deadline the province has set for expanded liquor sales without having to go through a bunch of hoops.”
The previous changes meant it was easier for businesses to serve liquor outdoors
“We’ve also written the province to indefinitely extend the ability for the patios,” said Jeff Bray, executive director for the DVBA.
“And they also provided a temporary discount for wholesale liquor prices. We are asking them to make that permanent.”
There are also hopes as the winter wraps up and as the pandemic eventually eases away that the patios could be a more permanent part of Victoria.
“I’ve often referred it as Victoria’s new patio culture,” said Bray.
“I think this could be a permanent feature post-pandemic, and again that nice change to making downtown really vibrant and fun the same way some European cities are.”
Julian Kolsut
