Within half an hour of taking reservations, all 15 tables at the new back patio at Main Street’s Olde Village Free House were spoken for by 11:30 a.m.
Staff at the “OV”, as it is affectionately known by loyal patrons, said the last 24 hours of preparing for today’s reopening were the “longest 24 hours of my life”.
For the first time since being shut down mid-March for takeout only to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, the OV pub is pumping again.
“This is so exciting, we’ve been working so hard, and can’t wait to serve a full menu out here,” general manager Bailey Bloxam said, while overseeing the finishing touches on the large patio space that overlooks Market Square.
Server Hannah Kavanagh added that she’s “super stoked to be back at work”.
“It’s great that we get to work outside, and I am not worried about (COVID-19) because we have all the PPE we need, the place is super clean and safe,” she said.
A new suds that owner Allan Cockburn brewed in partnership with Newmarket’s Red Thread Brewing is a nod to the times. It’s called The cOVid Lager, in relation to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the OV nickname of the pub.
The first 100 cases sold out in one day, and another 400 are expected to arrive soon. Cockburn is donating $5 from every case to the fund for frontline workers at Southlake Regional Health Centre.
Cockburn maintains that a sense of humour is necessary during these tough times. So, if you are so inclined, you can sit on OV’s new COVID patio, and sip a cold cOVid lager in downtown Newmarket — for a good cause.
Many local citizens were out early this morning, some going for their first haircut like Councillor Bob Kwapis, and others watching with fascination as workers hammered nails into patio railings to be ready for patrons for 4 p.m. openings, such as at Lil’ Brew Hops, Made in Mexico Restaurant and The George on Main.
Main Street resident Mike Widdrington, 84, who was sitting outside Lil’ Brew Hops with his Maltipoo, Joey, said the COVID-19 situation in the United States concerns him more than what he sees here locally and in Canada.
“We’re going to have to keep our borders closed,” he said, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump’s indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma is unthinkable during a pandemic.
Widdrington is amused by all the activity downtown this week as restaurants prepare to reopen, as he and Joey go for walks every day.
“I know a lot of people around here, for every ‘Hi!’ I get, Joey gets 50,” he said with a laugh.
Over at the Metropolis Mercantile & Cafe, where an approximately 20-person capacity patio with long banquet-style tables overlooks the Riverwalk Commons area, Newmarket resident Rhoda Foreht was enjoying time outdoors with sister Barbara Gold and niece Marla Gold.
The Golds, who live in Toronto, which remains shuttered and stuck in stage 1 of Ontario’s three-stage COVID-19 reopening plan, drove up to Newmarket to have a visit on a patio and enjoy the warm sunny day.
All three women were wearing face masks, and spoke about the need for everyone to remain vigilant to stop the spread of the coronavirus during reopenings.
“We don’t understand why there’s been so much resistance to wearing masks when you need to and being safe,” they said.
The diners said they were dismayed lately about what they’ve noticed as a lack of vigilance in keeping up with public health measures when out in public, such as physical distancing. And reports that some people who wear masks at all times have been met with disdain and even violence.
The only downside, they said, is that "you can't see the smile" behind the mask.
Meanwhile, patio diners at Joia on Main that directly overlooks Riverwalk Commons appeared to be enjoying the quietness of the afternoon from tableside, as the Tim Hortons Water Feature remains closed to combat COVID-19, along with the Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall.
It appears a few more days are needed for some restaurants to organize patios, but pylons have blocked off Main Street parking spaces for dining in front of Aubergine Kitchen & Bar, and on Botsford Street for the Goulash House.
At Arthur’s Landing at Upper Canada Mall, the patio was near capacity over the lunch hour with small groups of people noshing at reserved tables and booths.
Inside the mall, where several stores remained closed today, including the Disney store and Danish Pastry House, thin crowds browsed and window shopped. The Danish Pastry House reopened Saturday, June 20 and, according to Nicole Marenick, of Maren Marcoux Marketing, its opening day was busy.
A regularly updated list of stores that are open can be found here.
An elderly couple said they sought refuge at the air-conditioned mall to beat the heat at home, and several moms were seen strolling with strollers and young children in tow. Groups of young people walked together, talking and laughing.
There were few lineups early this afternoon, with the exception of women’s clothing store, Zara, and a majority of stores had few customers if at all.
A staff member at Foot Locker told NewmarketToday that the day so far hadn’t been “crazy busy”, and that they had planned for and anticipated more shoppers. A rush of pent-up demand was expected, but that hadn’t materialized by early afternoon.
All store staff observed were wearing appropriate protective gear, such as masks, and many shops offered hand sanitizer before entering and posters reminding people about physical distancing.
In posters on mall entrance doors, Upper Canada Mall asks shoppers to acknowledge and agree that by entering, they do not have a fever and are not experiencing any symptoms of illness, have not been in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, and haven’t been advised to self-quarantine by public health officials in the past two weeks.
The majority of mall shoppers observed today were not wearing face masks.
Editor's note: This article was updated on June 21 to reflect the reopening of the Danish Pastry House.
