Ontario says Hamilton’s bars can serve inside; owners are taking a ‘cautious’ approach

For Hamilton's bar owners, the thumbs up from Ontario for Stage 3 reopening Friday - on the same day the city's mask bylaw took effect - doesn't necessarily mean a rush to serve inside.

I wouldn't use the word optimistic' ... more, cautious,'" said Tate Graham, owner of the Ship on Augusta Street, as well as Moodys, Amigos and Arcade on George Street.

Graham, similar to some other Hamilton bar owners, is not rushing into serving customers indoors as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Takeout has been good business; Graham estimates about half of his sales.

Anwish Srivastva of Unique Restaurant Group is happy things are moving forward.

Our hope is that the government is moving to Stage 3 ... because it's safe to do so," said the co-owner of eight area restaurants and bars, including Southcote 53 in Ancaster and Pheasant Plucker on Augusta Street.

Jeremy Greenspan, co-owner of the Brain, a small bar on James Street North that's been fully closed since March, says he plans to open, but not right away.

Very few people won't open," Greenspan says. What if there is never a vaccine?"

Jamie Leder, owner of the Collins in Dundas, has no plans to serve inside, but the Collins has a large patio that, Leder says, is working well for them.

We're concerned about the health and safety of our staff and guests, first and foremost," he says.

For Matthew Kershaw, owner of the Other Bird chain of bars and restaurants including the Mule on King William Street and Odds on James Street South, caution" is the word as they watch to see what happens.

I do not expect people who are cautious ... to be out for a couple weeks," Kershaw says.

A fear among some is the mix of alcohol and physical-distancing requirements, but owners are taking extra steps to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

The city's public health services is currently reviewing the appropriate processes and procedures for the reopening of bars," spokesperson Jacqueline Durlov said in an email. We understand there is significant interest in this piece specifically, and will be releasing the information when appropriate to do so."

At present there's some consensus about procedures, including strict adherence to mandatory mask wearing (which means removing masks only when eating or drinking while seated), as well as physical-distancing rules that preclude socializing and general rowdiness.

Jordan Geertsma, owner of Snooty Fox in Westdale, plans to open Monday, but not before making sure there are no shortcomings.

Geertsma says the main obstacle will be traffic flows to prevent needless interaction."

No one expects the rules to be fun, but if the numbers go up the Brain will close, Greenspan says, we shut down early and we'd do it again."

Going to a bar will certainly be a different experience for the foreseeable future, especially as some businesses plan to limit seating time and close earlier.

Nothing good can happen at 2 a.m.," Srivastva says.

Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com