Pop-up patios in downtown Kitchener to help restaurants recover from another lockdown

In the midst of the province's stay-at-home order, restaurants and bars in downtown Kitchener are gearing up for patio season.

It's part ofa new pop-up patio initiative from the Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the city.

The goal of the project is to helprestaurants and neighbouring businesses recover from impacts ofCOVID-19 once lockdown restrictions lift, which currently is scheduled to happen on May 20.

"Obviously they've suffered a huge financial loss and they need to focus on getting started again and on other things, other costs and debt," said Linda Jutzi, executive director of the downtown Kitchener BIA.

"Now that we anticipate that outdoor dining could be all that's allowed in the initial stages of the restriction lift, it's going to allow [restaurants] to create revenue when people are not allowed to go inside yet."

Jutzi said the BIA is fully funding theprojectso there is no additionalcost to restaurant owners.The pop-up patios can be found along King Street in front of restaurants like Big Fat Pita, Rich Uncle Tavern, Ace Shwarma and Burgers or La CucinaPizzeria.

"I can't wait to see my customers again," said Irfan Darsot, who ownsAce Shwarma and Burgers.

Darsot said the pandemic has had a significant impact on his business and hopes the pop-up patios will help bring more people downtown.

"We're hoping that a lot of our costumers from before will be back and enjoying our patio," he added.

"Hopefully they'll drive a bigger crowd downtown with the ability to sit and enjoy and feel normal again."

If restrictions remain past May 20, Jutzisaid the patios and furniture will be ready to go as soon as the region gets the green light to re-open.

Making downtown a destination

So farthere are 19 pop-up patios set up in the downtown Kitchener area.There also patios being set up as community spaces in front andnear the TheMuseum, as well asthe Conrad Centre.

The BIA is also covering the costs for the furniture, the patio sails, tentsand umbrellas, which will be added in the coming weeks, Jutzi said, adding shehopes the patios will help bring more foot traffic to the downtown core.

"We know that the restaurant business does attract people to a district so it obviously helps promote other businesses," she said.

"You can do the art walk and sit on a patio. We've really tried to do everything we can to make downtown a destination for people."

Saverio Valerio, presidentof Hamilton-based Pop-up Street Patios Inc., the company setting up the patios, told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo his company has already installed more than 200 patios in cities across Ontario this year.

He said city staff in Cambridge and Waterloo have also expressed interest in the pop-up patio project.