Local business owners are expressing a mix of fear, anger and frustration as the newest province-wide shutdown looms.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Thursday the province will enter its newest shutdown Saturday, as he pulls the emergency brake on all zones for at least the next 28 days to control the spread of COVID variants.
Some of those most impacted are personal care services and restaurants; eateries, bars and other food or drink establishments will be permitted to operate by take-out, drive-through, and delivery only. No outdoor patio service will be permitted.
At least one local business owner vows to remain open.
Beauty and Babes hair academy owner Melissa Ferguson told BarrieToday her personal care business will be open next week and throughout the shutdown.
“It's about survival at this point,” said Ferguson. “I cannot afford to close down and it's ridiculous for the government to say we have to. We have had no COVID cases linked to us, we follow every precaution and then some. Again, the big box stores who have had outbreaks are allowed to stay open. I’m not closing.”
Ferguson has been vocally opposed to the closing of "responsible" small businesses throughout the shutdowns.
On Monday, March 1, Ferguson and two friends went to the south end Walmart where Ferguson cut one of her friend’s hair and the other filmed. Her point then was to show “that the big box stores have no idea what is going on compared to what businesses like mine are doing to prevent transmission.”
Ferguson said she believes the fine for staying open is $750 a day. But the entrepreneur said she has her bases covered as she also owns a media consulting company, Its Melissa Ferguson.
“Under the guidelines, commercial media production companies can continue operating, which my coaching studio falls under,” said Ferguson. “I have everyone sign a media release when they come in, and of course, continue to follow the same protocols we’ve been following all along.”
Malones Pint House owner Sarah Lynne Maloney just opened her Bradford Street patio on March 10 and has invested a lot of money into it, believing that would be the best place to serve customers if another shutdown happened.
“I went out and spent thousands on outdoor heaters because I hoped if we did have to close indoors, surely being outside was the safest way to be,” said Maloney.
Maloney understands something has to be done to lower the provincial Intensive Care Units (ICU) admissions, but said it doesn’t alleviate her worries as a business owner who has been following all protocols.
“Since reopening it has been 100 percent great business. We’ve been doing really well with no COVID issues,” said Maloney. “Now my employees who just came off of EI have to go right back on.”
The restaurant owner said there is no way she can violate the provincial order or she risks losing everything.
“I would lose my liquor licence if I disobeyed a provincial order. In that case, if my licence is revoked for any grounds other than public interest, I would not be able to even apply to the registrar for a licence to sell liquor until two years have passed since the revocation,” said Maloney. “I’m not willing to gamble with that kind of loss.”
Barrie’s downtown bars have been hit with the double whammy of a pandemic and a massive construction project that took place on Dunlop Street.
Steve Ricalis is co-owner of Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, the Dunlop Street Diner and barbecue restaurant North Country, all in the city’s downtown.
Ricalis said the news that patios will not be allowed to open was “devastating.”
“We just wanted something, just something. I mean, the patio is open air and we just really thought we would get that,” said Ricalis. “We just hired a bunch of staff to get ready for summer and patio season. It's extremely frustrating.”
Ricalis said he will focus on the things he can control and a shutdown isn't one of them. When BarrieToday asked if he and his team will focus on reopening in four weeks, Ricalis laughed out of frustration.
“Nope, I don’t think we’ll be open in four weeks. I think the province will definitely extend the shutdown at least two more weeks, maybe four,” said Ricalis. “And even then, how cautious will they be with their limitations on capacity? This summer needs to be a good one for any chance of some businesses to get back all they've lost.”
