There was no masking the enthusiasm for patrons as bars and restaurants were given the go-ahead to open in Toronto and Peel Region this holiday weekend.
In the city’s Beach neighbourhood the boys were belly to the bar — with social distancing enforced, of course — at The Fill Station sports bar on Queen St. E.
The crowd was sparse, but the atmosphere was refreshing as the bar’s regular denizens enjoyed some pints and breakfast watching Arsenal defeat Chelsea 2-1 in the F.A. Cup final.
For bartender Tonya MacWilliams, Phase 3 couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Toronto Raptors hit the hardcourt Saturday night against the L.A. Lakers and the Toronto Maple Leafs open their NHL Playoffs Sunday night in the “bubble” against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“We are being really, really safe here. All the rules are being followed,” MacWilliams said Saturday. “People are masked when they come in until they get to their seats.”
“So they can drink and eat easily.”
Some booths and tables have been remarked as COVID free zones to keep “the distancing appropriate.”
“We have taken away half of our barstools so there is less people at the bar,” said MacWilliams.
She is also having to referee any kind of mingling and whistle people down for infractions.
COVID-19 rules as implemented by the Province of Ontario state that bar and restaurant patrons must wear masks upon entering, be seated indoors and outdoors, practice social/physical distancing and establishments must keep a client log for 30 days.
A longtime Beach resident, known to his friends as Chef Paul, said it has been the “weirdest of times” in his three decades working in the culinary service industry.
“Now it is starting to come back slowly, but who knows what the future holds?” said Paul. “Is it going to shut down again or spread? Are people going to be respectful enough to social distance and wear your mask?”
Asked whether he thought people would be leery about entering a bar, he said he didn’t think “they’d be rushing back to jump back into it.”
He is excited for live sports making their return as the highlight reels were getting a “little dreary,” although he found the Quebec Nordiques versus Montreal Canadiens 1985 playoff brawlfest pretty entertaining.
He said his “heart actually swelled” after coming home from work a few nights ago, turning on the TV and seeing Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard live going toe-to-toe on the hardcourt.
Pumping his fist in the air, Paul said enthusiastically, “Yeah! Sports is back!”
Cheers to the return of all of it.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
