HALIFAX -- A disastrous year for the restaurant industry in the Maritimes continues, as restaurants, bars and cafes that survived the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic are now trying to stay afloat during the second wave.
The director of Saint John’s uptown district says restaurants and bars are struggling in a big way, at a time when business is usually strong.
“They usually are making hay now, and then that puts them through for the first quarter, and that gets them toward the spring and into the patio season,” says Nancy Tissington, the executive director of Uptown Saint John.
Just when it looked like restaurants would be able to rebound from the first wave of COVID-19, a second wave and new round of restrictions have crushed their bottom line.
While many restaurants look to pivot back to takeout and delivery, many are still struggling, leading their owners to ask hard questions.
“How am I going to make that next rent pay? How am I going to keep my employees staffed and keep them busy?” says Tissington.
Tissington says she’s hearing from restaurant owners in the New Brunswick city that permanent closures are not far off.
“Unfortunately, we are going to see some losses in our city,” says Tissington.
It’s a trend across the Maritimes.
The Millstone Public House, with locations in Dartmouth and Bedford, N.S., had hoped to soon open a third location in mid-January.
But that plan is now on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even getting permits and licences now is extremely delayed,” says operations director Joel Chiasson.
After the latest round of restrictions closed dining rooms in Nova Scotia’s Central Zone, The Millstone is now serving takeout only.
“We used to be open for lunch, now we’re not. We’re open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. through the week,” says Chiasson. “We are managing to keep things afloat, the owners are very hands-on and they are keen on keeping people employed.”
Going forward, Chiasson says the restaurant remains focused as the pandemic continues.
“Keeping our doors open, keeping things moving, and serving as many people as possible,” says Chiasson.
Luc Erjavec from Restaurants Canada says COVID-19 has left the food and beverage service industry struggling to survive.
“Eight out of 10 restaurants say they are either losing money or barely scraping by,” says Erjavec, vice-president of the Atlantic Canada division of Restaurants Canada. “It’s been devastating. The COVID-19 crisis right from the beginning, and the latest restrictions have piled on.”
Erjavec also says, in this region, 61 per cent of restaurants are operating at a loss, and only 20 per cent are breaking even.
Tissington says there are many ways for customers to support restaurants, even without spending money. She says even giving a positive online review can go a long way towards lifting up a small business.
