Niagara-on-the-Lake’s council says the temporary patio program has had its time, but residents who spoke with The Lake Report say they disagree.
Back in March, council voted to end the temporary patio program by the end of this year.
On April 29, Coun. Wendy Cheropita asked council to reconsider the decision, but the majority still voted to shut it down. Only Cheropita and Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa voted otherwise.
So now, the program will end Dec. 31, which means all patios under the temporary program must shut down and reapply through other means. Applications are still being accepted for this year — just not on Queen Street.
NOTL resident Peter Blanchet said patios bring energy and life to the area.
“The streets become alive,” said Blanchet. “It’s so important.”
And they are good for tourism too, he said — when people visit, they want to see a vibrant, busy street. He said it benefits restaurants, too.
“It extends the amount of people that can use the restaurant,” he said.
For resident Maryanne Meloche, no patios means no more outings with her pup, Squirt.
“Usually if there’s a pub, like outdoors, we go outdoors instead of indoors,” said Meloche, whose Weiner-Chihuahua mix is the reason she wishes patios would stay.
“That’s why I like it,” she said.
But for some, it’s about losing something that became part of everyday life, like for resident Marnie Szabo.
“Not a fan,” said Szabo. “We got used to it.”
“It’s kind of nice to sit outside.”
Sunset Grill server Teresa Mckellar said the patios’ end is a loss both on and off the clock.
“Very sad about it, actually,” said Mckellar. “The patios do so well.”
Mckellar said she definitely saw more business once patios were implemented at the restaurant.
“The people seem to really love the patios,” she said, adding that she does too.
“You just love being outside, right? Like, it’s just a different feel, different atmosphere,” she said. “It’s nice.”
Mckellar isn’t the only one who appreciates the Sunset Grill patio — resident Tracey Girolami said she does too.
“It’s so much nicer than the noise inside, with the dishes and whatever going on,” said Girolami. “I kind of like eating outside in the morning.”
Not only does it let residents enjoy picturesque NOTL in the summertime, but she said it helps make up for the town’s limited outdoor dining options.
“There should be more places to sit outside,” she said.
Girolami said she doesn’t see traffic or parking posing any issues that would prevent patios from being able to operate “for just a few months out of the year,” she said.
“(Residents) are driving slow and we’ve got enough parking for everybody,” she said. “People can walk if they need to.”
Resident Angelo Marguglio agrees and said patios “are not bothering anybody,” adding that he does “not know why anybody wants to get rid of them.”
“I think they add a nice buzz and it’s more seating,” he said. “It’s good for the restaurants to have more space.
He said with a view like Queen Street, sitting outside becomes that much more desirable and worthy of the town coming to an agreement to allow patios.
“It’s nice to sit outdoors,” said Angelo. “It’s not like this road is a racetrack.”
“People are very cautious,” added Judy Marguglio, also a NOTL resident.
Judy said she sits outside as much as she can to soak up the town’s beauty.
“And because summer’s kind of short here. So we want to enjoy it as much as we can,” she said.
