It’s become a trope to say things “look a little different,” but for public-serving industries that are re-opening their doors across the province, it’s often true.<\/p>\n
At Headingley Grill, the booths are clean, the cooks are in the back and the staff are ready to serve. But the lunch rush isn’t the same, according to waitress Camryn O’Dowda. The usual crews don’t gather because customers are limited to dining with members of their household.<\/p>\n Still, people have been coming back. The plastic shields and hand sanitizers aren’t deterrents to folks who want to get out.<\/p>\n The province allowed restaurants to open at 25 per cent capacity beginning Feb. 12. It also loosened other code red restrictions, including permitting gyms to re-open at 25 per cent capacity. Indoor sports facilities also re-open at 25 per cent capacity, but just for individual instruction. Code red measures have been in place province-wide since Nov. 12.<\/p>\n Clients have not been as eager to come back to Harvest Health & Fitness this re-opening, according to gym owner Lisa Lewko.<\/p>\n “The last couple times, people were eager to come back. This time, they all found other things,” Lewko said. “It’s just been that long that people are like, ‘Well, do I really need to go to a gym?’”<\/p>\n She’s booked personal training sessions, but in-person classes are still off the table.The floor of her Sanford-based space is sectioned off for clients to have their own bubble, and buckets filled with sanitizers and tissues line the area.<\/p>\n “It’ll just take time again,” Lewko said, adding she hopes business will pick up soon.<\/p>\n Headingley Sport Shop had to block off its clothing section when retailers could only sell items Manitoba deemed essential. That regulation perished on Jan. 23.<\/p>\n “It’s a big relief,” said Dusty Cole, general sales manager of the powersports store.<\/p>\n Operations aren’t completely normal. Among other things, customers are discouraged from trying on helmets because they must be set aside for two days afterwards, and store capacity can’t exceed 25 per cent.<\/p>\n “It’s great to see familiar faces from the community back,” Cole said.<\/p>\n Customers seem to be shifting from online shopping to visiting the store’s physical location as restrictions ease up, Cole said. In fact, Headingley Sport Shop is struggling to keep some items in stock because of high demand, she added.<\/p>\n At press time, current code red measures were set to change Fri., March 5.<\/p>
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