They lined up with long hair on Tuesday.
The Central Barbershop downtown opened with fanfare, providing much-needed cuts to those with grown out COVID coifs.
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“Right out of the gate, they were outside,” owner Lisa Holzman told KTW on a busy reopening morning two months into the pandemic.
The downtown barbershop is among Kamloops businesses reopening this week during the provin cial government’s phase 2 of restarting the economg.
Relaxed restrictions will allows salon, massage parlours, fitness centres, pubs and restaurant dining rooms in British Columbia to reopen, with measures in place to prevent spread of COVID-19.
For the Central Barbershop, those measures mean fewer clients served at one time, increased sanitization and the use of personal protective equipment.
A bench for clients usually holds four or five people and now accommodates two. Waiting occurs outside. Meanwhile, capes and chairs are wiped constantly.
Down the road in Valleyview, the McCraken Station Pub is preparing to reopen its dining room at half-capacity on Wednesday, with WorkSafe BC protocols in place. Anticipation has been building for those popular sidecar Caesars, which will be included among a smaller selection on disposable, one-time-use menus.
“We’ve been having people come in and peek in past couple of days to see if we’re open already,” McCraken manager Jessie Vinepal said.
In addition to half-capacity in the dining room, tables will be spaced six feet apart. Sanitation stations will be set up and signage will promote awareness of COVID-19 symptoms and policies.
Condiments will also be one-time use.
Up the hill in Sahali, expect Mike burgers served in-house beginning Thursday.
Mr Mikes Steakhouse Casual will reopen at half capacity, also with increased protocols, including plexiglass placed near high-traffic areas, such as the host stand. In addition, staff temperatures will be screened.
Takeout has been good for the restaurant, but required fewer staff. Reopening of the Mr Mikes dining room this week means 10 full-time staff rehired — not to pre-pandemic levels, but more than when takeout was the only option.
Excitement is brewing.
“We’re super excited to open,” Mr Mikes general manager Emma Burtch said. “We can’t wait to have actual people in here.”
Editor’s note: Along with these businesses, many others are opening this week and next week and in the weeks to follow. There are simply too many to track and update as the gradual reopening of the economy continues. Our suggestion? Call your favourite haunt — be it a restaurant, pub or barber shop — and ask when they will be open and what protocols need to be followed.
