Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

shop local, eat local

Deliver It Forward: Kamloops stepping up for restaurants with online services, local delivery

Apr 8, 2021 | 4:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Infinite Kamloops website has been around for about one year, serving as a local restaurant directory. But after indoor sit-down service was paused in B.C, the dining guide was updated to show who has take-out delivery or patio service.

The site is the brainchild of Two Story Robot — a small software company operating out of the Kamloops Innovation Centre. Team Coordinator Paige Whitson says with current restrictions in place, they decided it was a good time to give the website a face lift and add which eateries had outdoor patios.

“I think a lot of customers are still wanting that dining experience that they’ve been able to have for the last couple of months that suddenly has been removed to a certain degree,” she says, “so being able to provide that information as well just to kind of help motivate people to still go out and still support local restaurants.”

There are well over 50 different establishments listed on the site — which also includes contact information, and direct web links to the restaurants for ordering. Whitson says this update was also done without coding, instead using a quick edit tool called Bubble.

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“As things change, as restaurants change or their patios open, things like that, if we want to add more information, it’s so quick for us to go in and add that, and then it’s live on the site, and it’s accessible to people.”

Infinite Kamloops started as a creative avenue for web development, and to help out local restaurants. So far, it’s been a win-win for local businesses and the creators at Two Story Robot.

“Looks like we had 82 visits over the last two days,” Whitson says while scrolling over the site. “We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback, we just started marketing it the other day so I do think we’ll see a lot more people visiting it, a lot more people using it as people spread the word about it.”

Throughout the pandemic, delivery companies such as Mitchie’s Delivery have also become increasingly popular. Co-owner Sean Martin says the Kamloops-based business started operating a little over a year ago, and has already grown past its three-year business plan.

“About 45 restaurants are with us. Probably in the next few weeks we should be around 50 restaurants so there’s quite a selection of people that are on there,” he notes. “As far as drivers, we’re anywhere from 30 to 50 and that fluctuates quite a bit. We’ve got a core group of people that have been with us since the very beginning, and it just sort of jumps around from there.”

Plenty of entrepreneurs have opened up delivery apps since March of last year, and since indoor dining was halted. Mitchie’s has seen even more interest since larger corporations like Skip the Dishes began charging extra fees to BC users. In contrast, the local business has opted not to increase fees for restaurants who use the service.

“There are still fees with our business,” says Martin. “But there’s a value to that. We’re available. They can phone us at any time, we’re updating their menu the same day or within a few days of them sending it to us. If there’s a problem with food, we take care of it.”

Many restaurants and bars have taken a serious financial hit without in-person dining. But Martin hopes people will make use of local delivery, take-out, or patio alternatives to help them get by until restrictions ease.

“Kamloops has really rallied around the local businesses more so I think, than a lot of other people have.”

Back at the Kamloops Innovation centre, the Two Story Robot team has launched another Deliver It Forward campaign, which will raise donations through food orders.

“Take a picture of it, tag the restaurant if you can, tag us. Every time we see someone supporting local- whether you’re on the patio or ordering it for your home, we will donate $20 on your behalf to the Kamloops Food Bank.” explains Whitson. “And ARPA investments has also put $500, so our goal is a $1,000 donation to the Kamloops Food Bank.”