Kamloops eateries take advantage of the city’s expanded patio program

The man in charge of overseeing patio expansions for the city is business license inspector Dave Jones. He’s pleased with the buy-in from the restaurant community.

“At first we weren’t sure, “Jones says about rolling out the patio program. “I can tell you we’ve had 13 of these restaurants make applications for these expansions.”

On Friday, Jones was on Tranquille Road surveying the scene of the first patio on the North Shore. He’s happy with how businesses have adapted their outside spaces to make the patios their own.

“If you look downtown, we have a unique set of new designs,” Jones describes. “We have some features where people have really used their imagination to enhance that patio experience.”

Hello Toast has just reopened its doors to the dining public. According to head chef Ryan Clark, the new patio has helped make up for the tables they’ve lost to physical distancing.

“It’s nice, especially for summertime,” Clark says. “People want to sit outside. It gets a little hot inside, so right now it’s more attractive to have outside seating; it’s well-ventilated, that’s what people want.”

The initiative has been okayed until the end of October. Carl DeSantis says once the patio season ends, he’ll speak with businesses to suss out the success of the expansion.

“Whether or not it continues next year, that’ll be up to the business community and the recommendations they want me to push forward to city council,” DeSantis says.

Ryan Clark wants to take it a step further.

“I think every summer, we (should) get some expanded seating,” Clark suggests. “I think, even shut down three, four square blocks for the summertime.”

Greg Smith is happy he’s been able to enhance the experience for his customers.

“It’s almost like being able to work with a new tool you didn’t have,” Smith says. “We’re very thankful for that.”

by Adam Donnelly

Kamloops eateries take advantage of the city’s expanded patio program

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