Reduction in reception capacity | A “third blow in the legs” of restaurateurs

“Oh, my God, we don’t want to go through this! These are the words exchanged between Pierre-Marc Tremblay, owner and chairman of the board of directors of Pacini, and his colleagues during the press briefing where Prime Minister Legault announced that restaurants and bars, just like businesses, should operate at 50% of their capacity as of Monday in order to “reduce contact”.

Nathaelle Morissette
Press

In addition to giving up on a holiday season that promises to be more lucrative than last year, when they were closed, some restaurateurs also fear losing the few employees they have left “forever” because of the instability once again hitting the industry. A worrying situation for the Association Restauration Quebec (ARQ), which believes that with the new rules, the government, after having carried out two closings, has just given “a third blow in the legs” of restaurateurs. The Association is also asking for government assistance in the form of grants.

Already at the beginning of the week, Quebec’s request to employers to reinstate teleworking as well as a call for smaller gatherings had hit hard several restaurateurs who found themselves with many cancellations of Christmas meals between office colleagues.

“Everything we have done to prepare for the holidays has just fallen through the cracks, for his part let down Pierre-Marc Tremblay, who does not hide his discouragement. We trained employees, there were a lot of reservations, we have stocks. We had accumulated wine. We were happy. It’s a tough time to go through. ”

If Mr. Tremblay ensures that he understands the measures announced, he nevertheless emphasizes that they will make him lose sales that he will never recover. “There won’t be another party to replace the Christmas party when [les choses vont revenir à la normale]. That’s where it happens. These are dead losses. ”

Hard blow for employees

Mr. Tremblay is also worried about many employees who had returned to the dining room and the kitchen, hoping that the situation would improve. “Their Christmas wages are going to be cut. This is what I find the saddest. I see all of our employees who are suddenly going to have cut hours, incomplete weeks. It is not easy. ”

In downtown Montreal, Cédric Saint-Onge, owner of Le Speakeasy restaurant, describes the announcements of the last week as a “cold shower”. According to him, they are a blow to employees in the sector. “What’s difficult isn’t the steak or the bottle of champagne you’re stuck with, that’s okay.” What is serious is that you create jobs, you give hope, people work hard, and you are going to tell them that they may be going back to unemployment in a month. It’s not motivating for anyone, ”he laments.

The next few weeks will also be difficult for bar owners, subject to the same rules. Nightclubs and establishments where there are karaoke evenings will have to cease their activities. Dancing and karaoke will be prohibited from Monday. ” We are [extrêmement] disappointed, said Renaud Poulin, president of the Corporation of owners of bars, brasseries and taverns of Quebec, which represents 1,127 establishments. Already, it was difficult financially. We don’t know what’s going to happen. We don’t know when it will resume. ”

Traders

In terms of stores, customers risk re-entering queues. “Disappointed” by the rules announced, the Director General of the Quebec Retail Council (CQCD), Jean-Guy Côté, however, recalls that traders are starting to get used to this kind of restriction.

“It’s the best time of year,” he recalls. But what encourages me is that this is not our first rodeo. We have already done it, we will be able to apply it. We want people to be understanding and patient. It might be a little longer than usual. ”

“But of course we have a fear [que les gens viennent moins]. It sends a funny message to consumers. ”