The Steaming Cup Cafe is one business taking part in the patio program (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

free tables

City of Brooks helping restaurants establish patios amid restrictions

Apr 11, 2021 | 7:00 AM

BROOKS,AB- The City of Brooks is lending a hand to help local restaurants generate revenue while still complying with the latest restrictions that ban indoor dining.

The city has established a temporary pop-up patio initiative where local restaurants can borrow picnic tables from the city’s parks department to create outdoor seating.

There is no fee for businesses to take part, but restaurants are required to complete the proper licensing if they intend to serve liquor. Businesses must also get permission from the landowner and contact the Brooks Fire Department prior to setting up.

Brooks Mayor Barry Morishita said the city wanted to provide the help because small businesses like restaurants have been repeatedly faced with restrictions.

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“ The ups and downs of it I think is even more troubling. If you know you are sort of planning for six months, fine. But now I think one of the unfair pieces of how we are going right now particularly in areas where the numbers don’t warrant more restrictions is the uncertainty, so we are hoping the patio program, at least allows a few businesses the opportunity to know they have certainty for that portion, at least,” Morishita said.

The pop-up patio initiative is alongside their patio program which has been operating for a few years. For approximately $500 a season, restaurants can lease out a patio which is then constructed and installed by city employees.

Sandra Haberman-Melvill has owned The Steaming Cup along 2 Street West for 12 years. Like so many restaurant owners she was concerned about a loss in revenue when the province handed down the latest restrictions last week. But she said the patio program, which she has been a part of for three years, helped ease her worry.

“ I did know that the patio would be coming. I did know that I have my back patio and I have a wonderful loyal customer base, so I knew that they (the customers) would come when they were ready to,” she said.

The business owner said the support from the City of Brooks has been instrumental in helping her pivot amid the latest restrictions.

“ The city was awesome because the patio usually comes out May 1, and because we are under restricted dining with fewer numbers, I did ask if they could possibly do it sooner,” she said.

The city originally planned to launch this year’s patio program on April 15, but once the restrictions were announced, they agreed to install the patios much sooner. Haberman-Melvill’s patio was installed and ready to go by Friday, the day the restrictions came into effect.

“The city doesn’t get the credit they deserve. There’s a lot of background work that I know they have been doing in helping our community through the pandemic and it seems that the negative is what is heard, and the positive is not what is spoken but I’m here to say they have been wonderful to work with,” she said.

Any businesses interested in taking part in the patio program are asked to contact city hall at 403-362-3333.