The Vault Sports Pub is excited to have their doors open to dine-in customers again. The local establishment was only open Wednesdays during the second lockdown.
“We were open on Wednesday’s for wing Wednesday and we were supported very well for that,” says The Vault Sports Pub co-owner, Janice Lucas.
Since re-opening on Feb. 8, 2021 as outlined in the COVID-19 restriction lifting stages by the provincial government, Lucas says that the continued support from customers has been amazing and has been greatly appreciated by Vault Sports Pub owners and staff.
Owner and operator of Corner Bistro in Rimbey, Donna Wells, echoes Lucas’ sentiments.
“The town has supported us amazingly,” says Wells. “We have good people here.”
Wells says that although shutdown didn’t impact her business as much as others, as they were able to stay open for takeout full time, she has definitely noticed a climb in customers now that dine-in is permitted again.
“We are busier,” says Wells. “Customers are enjoying being able to come in and sit down again.”
Lucas says while the Vault Sports Pub is still on it’s feet, they are bracing for the possibility of another lockdown that mandates the closure of in-dining experiences.
“As an owner of The Vault Sports Pub we were definitely effected by the shutdown,” says Lucas. “Hopefully we can manage this to stay open in the future.”
“It would definitely hurt us. We won’t go under yet.”
While other restaurants may choose to stay open despite provincial guidelines if another lockdown comes in the future, Lucas says this likely won’t be an option for her Pub.
Lucas says she supports the restaurants that opened against provincial regulation before the Alberta Government’s set date of Feb. 8, 2021.
“I do fully support the businesses that were able to re-open. Small communities are totally impacted by not being able to open,” says Lucas. “More power to everybody who can do it.”
However, for Vault Sports Pub Lucas says, “it wasn’t something that was even feasible for us to think about. Lucas says that when they were considering re-opening before guidelines allowed that, “we have been informed by AGLC our licenses could be revoked… I cannot afford to lose my AGLC licenses.”
Lucas said it felt great to officially open their doors again and hope that the COVID-19 numbers stay low enough to keep them that way.