'we're not police': edmonton-area restaurants choosing to close in-dining following alberta's new covid-19 restrictions

Breadcrumb Trail Links * Local Business * Local News * Politics Published Nov 25, 2020  •  3 minute read ARTICLE CONTENT Some Edmonton-area restaurants are closing dine-in service over

concerns about how to enforce Alberta’s new COVID-19 restrictions. Starting on Friday, restaurants, bars, pubs and lounges will be allowed to open if they follow the new public health

guidelines including making sure the maximum of six people at a table are from the same household. Individuals who live alone can go out with up to two of their close contacts. Other changes

include establishments allowing only eating and drinking, with no movement between tables. Article content Article content Advertisement 2 THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. * Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything

features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. * Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. * Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic

replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. * Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. * Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE

ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. * Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ

Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. * Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. * Edmonton Journal ePaper, an

electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. * Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. * Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN

TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. * Access articles from across Canada with one account. * Share your thoughts and join the

conversation in the comments. * Enjoy additional articles per month. * Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or

sign in to continue with your reading experience. * Access articles from across Canada with one account * Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments * Enjoy additional

articles per month * Get email updates from your favourite authors SIGN IN OR CREATE AN ACCOUNT or Article content The province previously required restaurants and bars to stop serving

alcohol at 10 p.m. and close in-dining at 11 p.m. Paul Shufelt, the owner of five restaurants in Edmonton including the Workshop Eatery, called the government’s attempt to curb the recent

rise in active cases a half-measure and said he was hoping for a full lockdown, despite knowing it would hurt his business. He said it’s not fair for the province to put the responsibility

of enforcement onto the shoulders of business owners and front-line staff like servers. “We’ve made the decision (that) we’re going to close (in-dining) effectively Friday,” he said. “I felt

it was the right thing to do. Someone has to. We have to take action. We have to do the right thing to keep our staff safe and to keep our guests safe and to try to help front-line workers

get on top of this thing.” Headline News Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for

signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue

signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Article content Shufelt said his restaurants will be offering take-out and delivery while the Greenhouse will continue to

offer take-out service at its firepits. Premier Jason Kenney tweeted on Wednesday that the new restrictions will be reviewed after three weeks. Shufelt said he will be assessing whether to

reopen in-dining service at that time but that will depend on whether active cases have gone down. He suspects that roughly 15 people across his five restaurants will have to be laid off.

Andrew Fung, chef and proprietor of XIX Nineteen, said he’ll be exclusively offering take-out starting Friday for the next two to three weeks. He said he feels frustrated to be put in this

position. “I feel very pressured,” Fung said. “We (are) already having a tough time asking people (to) put on a mask and now you’re enforcing another rule on top (of that). I just found it

very difficult. What we normally do is provide hospitality. We’re not police, we’re not law enforcement.” Advertisement 4 Article content Sylvia Cheverie, the owner of Chartier in Beaumont,

said she was surprised by what the province announced as she was expecting a total lockdown. She said she will be pausing in-dining for a few weeks until the number of cases comes down and

plans to offer curbside pickup and eventually delivery. “We need to make sure that our team and our guests feel safe going back out,” Cheverie said. Not everyone will be closing their doors.

Chris DeCock, one of the owners of Greta Bar YEG, said he had mixed feelings about the restrictions, especially regarding the ban on games. He said restaurants and bars are safe for people,

as there haven’t been any cases directly tied to businesses. “The reality is we need to have people follow the (rules),” DeCock said. “It’s not the restaurants, not the bars. It’s the

social gathering at home. I feel we’re safe because I know that we do a great job. I see other places doing a great job.” Advertisement 5 Article content As for the enforcement, DeCock said

he would like to see more direction from the province on what restaurants and bars need to do. Christine Champagne, marketing manager with the Continental Treat Fine Bistro, said her

restaurant is still deciding what they plan to do. “People are too afraid to eat out as it is,” she said. “We’ve had tons of cancellations just because of COVID. We’ve had people specify

that when they cancel because they’re getting worried about the numbers increasing.” Anyone concerned about someone not following public health orders can submit a complaint to Alberta

Health Services online or call 1-833-415-9179. [email protected] Twitter.com/jefflabine Article content Share this article in your social network Comments Join the Conversation Featured

Local Savings