B.C.’s indoor restrictions worse than restaurant, pub shut down: brewery owner
Posted April 4, 2021 12:56 pm.
Last Updated April 16, 2021 1:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EAST VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — An East Vancouver brewery owner says he almost wishes the province would completely lockdown, rather than restrict outdoor seating for restaurants and pubs.
Since the province announced it would be placing restrictions on indoor dining for approximately three weeks, many people in the industry have vocalized their frustration.
Container Brewery‘s Dan Webster explains he is welcoming customers on their newly tented outdoor patio, but now his business’s revenue is completely dependent on the weather.
“Our patio it’s not winterized, in our case just weatherproof at all,” he says. “So, this morning … I’m actually driving all over town to pick up my 10X10 pop up tents to try and at least put some sort of weather protection, but that wasn’t necessary when we were able to have people inside were abiding by the previous PHOs [Public Health Orders].”
“All of our tables were more than six feet apart, reduced capacity, etc. So now, now we’re a weather-dependent business. If we’re lucky, and it’s a nice sunny day and also that winds up being a weekend or evening, then we’ll have some people come and visit us.”
While Webster considers himself an optimistic person, he says, “I’m also fairly realistic, and I don’t necessarily see it working out well … I’m concerned.”
Webster says when his business had to close last year, it was almost better than the recent regulations since he was able to furlough the front-of-house employees.
He adds that it’s difficult to compare how well or poor business was compared to this and last year because the brewery is a relatively new business.
