Black Diamond businesses challenged to adapt under new restrictions

Small businesses in the region are trying to manoeuvre the fine line between staying safe and staying open. 

Matthew Wagstaff, co-owner of the Rona in Black Diamond, is thankful that small business can stay open and said his team is doing what it can to help stop the spread. 

“We’re thankful that small business can stay open and we’re supportive of the new measures,” said Wagstaff. “Our staff is very adaptive of the new parameters, and we had mandatory masks for staff in place a couple weeks back. We want to get everything back on track 

“It is what it is, I can't change anything. We're just going to be supportive of the provincial government's position and the federal government's position and work within those confines and try to make the best experience for our customers.” 

As part of the new enhanced public health measures to combat COVID-19 announced by Premier Jason Kenney on Nov. 24, most retail outlets are able to stay open with 25 per cent capacity limits set under the Alberta Fire Code. Additionally, restaurants are only allowed to have a maximum of six patrons  who live in the same household sit at a table. People who live alone are allowed to meet up to two non-household contacts with no movement between tables.

The restrictions apply to all areas in the enhanced status, including Okotoks and the Foothills County region, which stretches from Priddis down to Longview.

Wagstaff said the store is adhering to guidelines put in place by Rona’s head office, capping shoppers at one person per 125 square feet — approximately 25 people in the Black Diamond hardware store. 

Nelson St.-Pierre’s restaurants Soft Rock Bistro and La Cazza's Pizza, with their smaller dining areas, are surviving off of take-out and delivery exclusively. 

"We've had no dine-in since day one of COVID,” said St.-Pierre. "We’re losing a lot of money. Usually on the weekend when it's nice outside, the Bistro is always packed.” 

He says the lack of out-of-town dining has hit his business hard. 

"People drive all the way from Calgary and everywhere to dine in," he said. "On the weekends I lose more than half of my business.

“We're trying to figure out what we're going to do for the future, because this is not done yet.” 

St.-Pierre said though he could open one or two tables in either of his businesses, he doesn’t in the interest of safety of his customers and staff. 

"We don't want to dine in because of the situation, so delivery and take-out keep us going," he said. "It's hard on every small business around.” 

The reputation of Soft Rock Bistro’s poutine is a saving grace to St.-Pierre. 

"I have people driving over an hour just for the poutine," he said. "At least I can still have a little bit of business because people still like my poutine.” 

The restaurateur is buckling down for a hard winter. 

"We'll have to deal with it," he added. "I hope soon it will be over, but it doesn't look like that.”