Restaurants hit hard by Orange Phase
MIRAMICHI
While many businesses have been affected by COVID-19 restrictions, bars and restaurants have been hit particularly hard. Miramichi is in zone seven. Despite have zero active cases, the city has entered Orange phase. The result of the new regulations, specifically the single household bubbles has affected restaurants dramatically.
Economically, surviving the first lockdown was miraculous for many business owners. The single bubble household has meant a huge drop in dine-in customers for bars and restaurants.
“A bar is a place for people to be social and to gather and to meet up with friends. And now being put into the orange zone, it is restricting people being able to meet up with other people. You’re only allowed to come out with your household bubble. So that has been really difficult,” said Samantha Macdonald, owner of Apero Lounge.
She says it is hard to explain to customers who work together all day why they can’t get together for a snack or a drink at her bar. Her bartenders are meeting resistance from customers, who do not want to follow the rules. Patrons and staff are both frustrated.
In June of 2020, MacDonald bought a food truck under the Apero name. This meant her business would be deemed essential because it served food and would be allowed to stay open under stricter restrictions. Many businesses have had to be flexible to survive.
Mikes Bar & Grill has hired full time delivery drivers, cutting down on serving staff. “Since entering the Orange phase, the bar has been deeply affected. For one thing, our sale are mostly take-out again. People seem afraid to come in, they don’t really seem to understand the rules and when rules are presented sometimes they are offended,” said manager Fulvia Fortunato.
Fortunato explains their daytime dine-in sales have dropped significantly since orange phase rules have come into effect. Many of the regular customers work and (usually) have lunch together. “We are hoping these restrictions mean a drop in cases and we can get back to yellow quickly,” she said.
While all agree health and safety are priority, there is still the economic reality to face. Depending on how long orange and red phase last, some businesses may be forced to close.
