Saskatoon restaurant hopes to increase number of patio days before winter sets in

Take a stroll along Victoria Avenue near Main Street in Saskatoon, and you’ll see Las Palapas Resort Grill. It’s a popular restaurant that’s been in the area for the last 15 years.

Like many restaurants, it closed down to indoor dining because of the COVID-19 pandemic- as ordered by the province. And like the others, it too reopened its dining room when allowed, but with a myriad of rules in place to protect both staff and customers.

Business has been steady over the summer, with patrons taking advantage of both indoor and patio options. Inside, manager Shannon Karas says there’s a capacity of 100 people, but in order to keep people two metres apart and safe movement about the restaurant, only 50 are allowed inside.

The patio allows another 48 patrons to dine outside (with distancing measures, 24 in total), but with fall already here and winter on its heels- it means closing the space and losing that extra business.

About a month ago, Karas says the restaurant owner had an idea.

“He (John) was sort of looking for a way to extend that (patio) season a little bit longer and to keep our guests comfortable. He started looking around for options and they went with Night Owl Entertainment. They put up the structure and the covering and we just brought in a propane heater. So, we’ll just have to wait and see when the temperature drops how comfortable our guests are out there.”

The covered patio area looks like a giant white tent with plastic windows, and a large frame.

“It’s our first time doing it,” said Karas, “so we’re just going to see how that goes. How warm it actually stays out there with the covering and the heater we’ve got going.”

The structure went up a few weeks ago, and so far, it’s proven to be a popular outdoor option when it’s chilly outside. However, she says it’s not likely to last into winter.

“Once the snow starts falling and blowing, it’s not really going to be enough shelter to keep the snow out of the patio.”

Night Owl Entertainment

Bill Webster and his company, Night Owl Entertainment, were the ones approached by a mutual contact to set up the temporary outdoor shelter.

Webster says COVID-19 hit his company hard; they typically set up outdoor sound stages and lighting for outdoor festivals, concerts and other events. Work has been scarce since the pandemic hit, so he and his crew welcomed the opportunity to get creative.

“We’ve been pretty much devastated from the sound and light point of view,” he explained.

“I said, ‘Well, we can probably put up a trussing structure like we do for the jazz festival.’ So, I thought if we could modify that, put it on the existing patio on the perimeter.”

The owner had already bought a canopy, and they put that to use as well.

“With some of the guys I work with, we were able to come up with basically a truss system that encompasses the patio so that they could increase their distancing,” he said.

Webster says his company remains open to any other opportunities to work with restaurants, companies and organizations- especially with civic and provincial elections on the way- to create those temporary outdoor structures so people can get together, but remain distanced as well.

Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association

The restaurant industry is extremely creative during tough times, says Jim Bence.

The president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association says as winter approaches, many owners know it’s going to be a long and tough winter, and they’re all looking at their expenses to see how they can keep their staff while also putting out a great product.

There are a few things many are doing to ensure that.

“Those operators that understood the online presence that they have, the E-commerce and their adaptability with regards to take-out and delivery. That’s where I’m seeing most of the investment… and making it easier for people to order online and take out.”

He says there are operators now who never thought of that side of the operation as being so critical, now are realizing it could help keep them afloat, and in some cases even thrive.

Saskatoon city council has also allowed sidewalk cafes and patios through the winter of 2020/2021 provided there is a snow removal and storage plan. More details can be found here.