‘Not far behind’: Owner of Aurora’s Aw, Shucks! Oyster Bar looks forward to reopening

Bradford reopened June 11, York Region is just around the corner

Yorkregion.com
June 18, 2020
Lisa Queen

It’s hard to be an Aurora business owner and not be a little jealous that as of June 11, Aurora residents are now able to drive 15 minutes north to Bradford to sit on a patio or get their hair cut.

Bradford is in Simcoe County, which, like much of the province, is moving into the second phase of reopening during the coronavirus pandemic. But York Region, and the rest of the Golden Horseshoe, will remain in the first phase due to their higher numbers of COVID-19 cases.

While Bradford is getting a head start on reopening, Andrew Taranowski said he understands the decision was made in the best interests of public safety and knows York Region is just around the corner. In fact, the province announce York Region gets its turn to open June 19.

“It’s true (Aurora residents can easily get to Bradford), but these are trying times, right? I don’t think we’re that far behind Bradford and other areas,” one of the managing partners of Aw Shucks! Oyster Bar and Bistro, said.

“If the chief medical officer of Ontario has deemed it safe to open up areas outside of York Region, they’re the professionals, they know better than myself. So, I say good luck to everybody outside of York Region.”

Making sure the reopening is done properly is the most important thing, Taranowski said.

“As much as we’d love to open up right now, we just want to make sure we’re doing it the right way, that we have all the personal protective equipment for employees, have all the signage for our patrons and staff, and we just want everyone to enjoy the facilities and feel safe about it, have a safe environment,” he said.

The town is working on ways to allow restaurants and bars to extend their patios when the province deems it safe, Mayor Tom Mrakas said.

One of the most important things municipalities can do is lobby the provincial government not to slap eateries with additional licensing fees or other costs, he added.

Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Rob Keffer is wondering what the impact will be on his town.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that it’s good for the business community. The small, self-employed businesses have been asked to give up an awful lot because of COVID-19,” he said.

“I think those small businesses will be busy enough with their regular clientele that there won’t be a lot of opportunity for people from York Region to utilize the services that we have in our town."

Keffer said there are several York Region residents who shop in Bradford regularly.

“They are certainly welcome if they have been supporting our Bradford businesses,” he said.

Brittany Buck, owner of BBBeauty Boutique, said the salon is only offering hair services at this time. It has had to hold off on reopening the waxing, makeup and facial side of the business. Blow drying in the salon has also been eliminated until further notice as a precaution.

“We have literally four months of clients that we’re trying to get in right now,” Buck said.

Adelina Britl, owner of Infinity Beauty Salon, said her priority is her regular customers but she understands why York Region residents would want to come to Bradford to get their hair cut.