Restaurant owners in downtown Collingwood say they’re closing their outdoor eating areas rather than move them, as the town has dictated.
Duncan’s Cafe owner Sean Cripps says because the by-law has passed, he’ll take his patio down Monday instead of moving it, and he says he won’t be the only one.
Cripps believes all 14 restaurants downtown will close their patios.
He says he’s both frustrated, and disappointed in the councillors that voted for the bylaw, and calls it a shame that five councillors ignored the public, the fire chief and downtown business owners.
He says not a single customer has told him that patios will be better is they’re moved to the curb, and not one has even said it’s a good idea.
Cripps says there’s no chance he’d simply keep his patio next to his restaurant, because he doesn’t want to break the law.
But he says that because lots of people have enjoyed the patios downtown since the May holiday weekend, they will miss them after July 5th, especially with all the major events this summer in Collingwood.
Cripps also tells us that about 30 percent of business during the summer comes from patios.
He says his 15 staff members will lose hours and about 60 other jobs at other restaurants will be affected in the same way.
