Georgina restaurants have appetite for permanent patio program

Georgina's extension of temporary patio program on menu until end of 2022

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 16, 2022
Amanda Persico

The weather might still be bleak, but local restaurateurs are looking to the warm winds of change that bring about patio season.

For patrons, local restaurant patios were the place for views and pints.

But for many businesses, having a couple of tables and chairs outside helped keep the business afloat, especially when outdoor dining was the only thing on the menu.

Recently, the town opted to extend its temporary patio program to the end of the year as a way to help boost the hard-hit sector.

Georgina’s temporary patio program provides a grant of up to $2,000 to restaurants looking to establish or enhance their outdoor dining areas.

Last year, about a dozen restaurants participated in the program.

The makeshift patio at The Mansion House in Sutton seated between 30 and 35 people with good physical distancing and “helped gain business,” said manager Charlie Young.

"It was really helpful," he said. "Now, we're waiting for warm weather again."

Keswick’s The Naked Wing also participated in the temporary patio program.

Unlike The Mansion House with space for a full patio, The Naked Wing used a portion of the plaza walkway with enough space for three tables.

But three tables were better than none at all, said owner Harshal Patel.

The small space became a takeout overflow area.

“It really helped,” Patel said. “We could only have 10 people inside. People were still afraid of coming in, so they could sit outside. People can still have a meal.”

While a welcomed temporary fix, many local restaurant owners want to see a more permanent solution.

“If there’s no obstruction or no cause for public concern, why not let us have a chance to survive?” Young said.

Having a permanent patio allows restaurants to plan and invest in a proper structure, creating an extension of in-person dining and bringing the indoor atmosphere outside, he added.

Current zoning bylaws do not allow for all restaurants to have outdoor patios. Patios were only permitted where there was prior planning approval, said Georgina economic development and tourism manager Karyn Stone.

Town staff are working on a report to allow restaurants to have permanent patios with some conditions, she said.

The pandemic has -- without a doubt -- impacted local restaurants, from being the front-line enforcers of the province’s proof of vaccination mandate to offering takeout only to limited in-person capacity.

“It’s beyond explanation how hard it is,” Young said. “Business drops every time there’s a shutdown. And every time it gets worse. Just because we open our doors again, we’re not all of a sudden back to the same level.”

With every closure, restaurant owners are forced to re-establish their business, he added.

Customers used to dine at the restaurant on a weekly basis as part of their on-the-way home routine.

“Two years is not a short time,” Young said. “Routines change. We’re not part of the routine anymore.

“In a small town, there’s the same group of regulars to go around. They all try to help. But everyone is tight.”

Not to mention food prices have increased, making staying afloat more difficult.

“You see prices everyday going up at the grocery stores,” Young said. “Grocery stores adjust their prices daily based on supply. A restaurant can’t do that. We can’t change our menu or our prices every day.”

Recently, the province announced capacity limits for in-person dinning will be lifted starting Feb. 17.

While he considers this good news, Young still questions why in-person dining was closed in the first place.

“The (provincial) government has said publicly they believe in the science and data,” he said. “We should be given proof restaurants are the source of spread before a shutdown. Show us we’re the problem. If that’s the case, we’ll do it.”

To help reunite residents with local eateries, the town has hosted several Taste of Georgina campaigns, with the next culinary event featuring signature dishes from local restaurants and running from Feb. 18 to March 6.

For more information, visit georgina.ca/patio.