Not the most celebratory of anniversaries, but one year later some Barrie businesses are reflecting on the pandemic and also what lies ahead.
One year ago today, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic.
While Ontario didn’t go into a lockdown until March 17, which is St. Patrick’s Day, Malones Pint House owner Sarah Lynne Maloney told BarrieToday that at this time last year, she was stressing about when she might get closed down.
“I had a lot of my inventory rolling in for St. Patrick’s Day, which is our biggest day of the year,” Maloney said. “It was frightening. We watched the news from morning to night and didn't create any of our St. Paddy’s specials until the night of 16th because we just weren’t sure what would happen.”
Maloney said she stayed up all night making the home-cooked Irish fare for the big day on the 17th, only to throw it away when Ontario Premier Doug Ford closed down the province.
“I sat in my living room and cried listening to Doug Ford announce the shutdowns,” Maloney said. “It was such a scary time.”
Malones remained shuttered until the June 12 reopening date because Maloney wanted to put the safety of her employees over any profit that could have possibly been made with take-out orders.
She also said she understands the Bradford Street pub was in a better spot than some when the day came to open.
“We were fortunate during the reopening in June, because we have an existing patio,” Maloney said. “We had a screen out there playing any sports we could show and it was, honestly, a pretty cool thing to see everyone enjoying the weather and each other at a safe distance.”
Malones had its patio open again as of this Monday and it has been as busy as a socially distanced patio can be.
“My husband was out there with an ice pick and a blow torch to get all the ice and snow removed so we could get open on Monday,” Maloney said. “We have eight tables of four set up, with 10 feet between all tables. We’ve got our patio heaters for when it's a bit chilly”
There are also plans to have a much better St. Patrick’s Day next week than last year.
“We always do home-cooked Irish fare and we will have a take-out package for anyone who isn’t comfortable being out yet,” Maloney said. “We have started taking reservations, offering two-hour time slots from when we open in the morning until the last available seating at 8 p.m. The outside seats have basically filled up already, even with the staggered times.”
Casa Cappuccino is also serving up some positivity — along with their coffee — for the future.
That is a far cry from how employee Hailey Mills felt a year ago when the pandemic was announced.
“I remember it was so confusing and uncertain a year ago. To think the world was now in a pandemic and not knowing at the time what it meant for us in Ontario, or Canada for that matter,” said Mills.
The downtown coffee shop was closed from the March shutdown until the June reopening and even then, was only offering curbside pick-up.
Mills said it has been hard at times to adjust to the new rules the world needs to go by — less staff, limited customers and the constant disinfecting — but she is happy with the way things are now and where they're going.
“We’re so happy to see everyone’s faces and all the people in (Meridian Place). There is a bit of positivity in the air and so many people have really gotten behind supporting the downtown shops and eateries,” said Mills.
“Things are looking up and I think, I hope, they continue to get better.”
