A lot of businesses that have been shuttered or just partially open for the last two months are opening up today. There’ll be some limitations, like how many people can be in a store and how far apart restaurant tables must be.
Burger and Sushi House co-owner Cody Renkosik says he and his wife are ready to see their customers sitting down, eating. You’ll need a reservation to eat at B.A.S.H. tonight and tomorrow.
Renkosik says he normally serves at 29 tables, turning three or four times each night.
Court Street Pub General Manager Shawna Hollingsworth is ready for mostly outdoor dining on a partially closed Court Street.
The city of Ottawa has closed some other streets to help restaurants get started again by giving them outdoor seating space.
Some businesses have been able to keep selling during the shutdown, but only online. The owners are happy to be able to reopen for in-store browsing and chatting, even with limits on how many can be inside. Leah Johnson runs Laurilea’s Unique Junk Boutique, selling home decor made from repurposed items, reopening today.
Online business isn’t an option for fitness businesses like Ottawa Nautilus, where owner Denetta Flamingo has had to sell equipment to pay bills. She’s excited to open again Monday, but admits she’s nervous.
Flamingo says she’s been cleaning “like a crazy person”. No mask will be required for people working out; she says you have to be able to breathe freely. Flamingo says she has plenty of room to keep people apart.
B.A.S.H. is reopening with reservation only seating.
Court Street Pub sets up outdoor on-the-street seating.
J.J.’s Pub is also getting outdoor on-the-street seating.
Things are rearranged inside Laurilea’s Unique Junk Boutique to give customers plenty of room to browse.