Owners and managers in many of Black Diamond’s eating and drinking establishments are eager to put the pandemic behind them as the Province prepares to lift almost all public health restrictions July 1 in the final stage of its COVID-19 reopening plan.
Hard Knox Brewery co-founder Pamela Lyken is counting down the days before the micro-brewery will be back to full capacity for the first time in 15 months.
“We will finally get to put our taproom back the way it used to be so it actually looks inviting,” she said. “We’re going to leave our hand sanitizer stations as you enter and exit, but we’re looking forward to having a mask burning party.”
Lyken said it’s been a stressful 15 months.
“As an owner you’re worried about the business, you’re worried about your own personal health and you’re also concerned about laying your staff off and how it’s impacting them,” she said. “I’m looking forward to not discussing COVID and the restrictions.”
Hard Knox Brewery staff is relieved to no longer have to remind customers to follow public health regulations and worry about getting reported that regulations are not being followed, said Lyken.
The popular micro-brewery on Black Diamond’s northeast side had two visits from Alberta Health Services personnel during the pandemic after a customer complained that a staff member wasn’t wearing a mask and another complained that physical distancing regulations weren’t being followed. Lyken said Hard Knox didn’t get written up either time.
While COVID-19 brought with it its share of challenges, Lyken said the business gained some unexpected benefits from the pandemic.
“One of the things that happened to us during COVID was because our restrictions weren’t as harsh as Calgary’s last summer, Black Diamond became a thoroughfare for staycations and our traffic doubled,” she said. “Because of those restrictions we got discovered. There has been growth every month since we reopened last May (2020). We’re actually a COVID success story.”
Marv’s Classic Soda Shop is another success story. The 1950s-style diner on Black Diamond’s busy Centre Avenue experienced a banner year during the pandemic.
“We had the best year in 2020 that I’ve had in 10 years,” said proprietor Marv Garriott. “The takeout business has been pretty good and we got a lot of customers from Calgary. We’re definitely one of the lucky ones for sure.”
Abiding by the Province’s restrictions, Garriott closed five booths – the equivalent to 14 to 16 customers – and some seating at the front counter. Marv’s outdoor patio allows for about a dozen patrons.
On July 1, Garriott will be ready to return to full capacity.
“I’ve had enough of the capacity limitations for one year,” he said. “We’ll be opening up all of the tables inside.”
Marv’s Classic Soda Shop’s reduced store hours will continue due to a staff shortage. Typically open seven days a week and closing at 9 p.m., Garriott said he’ll stay open five days a week until 8 p.m. until they have enough staff to accommodate the traditional hours.
Black Diamond Hotel & Bar manager Lori Green said she’s not ready to return to normal on July 1.
“We’re not going to full capacity or bringing any more tables out, and that’s our choice,” she said. “We just want to see what happens after the Stampede and with the Delta variant. There’s no point taking everything out and a month or two down the road them saying we’ve got to close again and when we reopen it’s going to be six feet apart again. We just had our third lockdown and it’s been a crazy 14 months.”
Green said the Black Diamond Hotel & Bar hasn’t had a single case of COVID-19 throughout the past 14 months, that she's aware of, and that it's managed to stay in the black financially.
“When we were closed we did takeout and it was slow, but our locals were so amazing in supporting us,” she said. “I was just so grateful. Without them, our doors could have been shut, but we’re making enough to pay wages.”
