Vancouver’s revamped patio program offers relief for restaurants ahead of FIFA World Cup crowds

As Vancouver restaurants continue to navigate rising costs and a challenging business landscape post-pandemic, the city’s newly updated summer patio program could provide a small but welcome boost.

Among the changes are a reduction in private patio permit renewal fees from $1,080 to $513 for large patios, no permit fees for small private patios and no increase to public patio permit fees. Businesses that upgrade a curbside patio to make it more accessible and safe could also get a one-time permit fee refund.

The city is also encouraging business owners to get their patio applications in this month if they want it approved in time for FIFA World Cup celebrations in mid-June.

“I think FIFA is coming faster than anybody expected, and suddenly we're going, gee, it's less than 100 days around the corner,” says Ian Tostenson, British Columbia Restaurant and Food Services Association (BCRFA) president and CEO. “I think everybody started feeling that we're a little bit behind schedule on some of the preparations.”

It’s been a bit harder to interpret and understand exactly what FIFA wants, because their organizing committee likes to run things directly, whereas with the Olympics, there was a committee that was chaired locally and the events were planned for years in advance, says Tostenson.

In any case, Tostenson said the patio changes are a welcome help amidst a turbulent time for the restaurant business. In September, Tostenson called a meeting of all members and stakeholders of the restaurant, hotel and tourism industry across B.C. to talk about critical labour shortages he describes as a “crisis issue for the industry.” He estimates there is a shortage of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 cooks and chefs across the province’s 15,000 restaurants

This is due partly to changes in the federal government’s temporary foreign worker program that means work permits are not being extended after two years, so businesses like restaurants end up losing qualified staff like chefs that take time and effort to train. These shifts in the industry especially hit the “ma and pa” restaurants harder than the bigger corporate locations, says Tostenson, who adds that it has had a negative impact on the culinary arts school enrollment as well, which in turn affects restaurants.

Add to that the rising costs of food and rent, and slower sales, it’s not surprising that a report out from Restaurants Canada last month showed that 44 per cent, or nearly half, of the country’s restaurants are operating at a loss or just breaking even. Those numbers stand out even more when contrasted with the only 12 per cent in 2019 that were in that situation.

Local chef Jim Romer, who runs two burger restaurants in the Vancouver area and one on Vancouver Island, has seen some of these challenges firsthand. About a year and a half ago, he had to close his Romer’s Burger Bar in Kitsilano after 14 years, and then had to close his Port Moody location as well. 

“Costs got too high, you know, rent. Sales leveled up a little bit, but then your labor costs and food costs are just climbing out. And I could only price the menu so high,” he says. “There's a laundry list of items that really impact the restaurant business.”

With a goal of serving gourmet high-end burgers, there’s also pressure to keep what he calls the “operational excellence” and general quality high, to ensure people are happy with what they’re spending money on, he says.

“You have to be great at all things, right? Each day, every day, from the time the guest hits the front door to the time they leave, you have to be great,” he says. Though he sold the one business that had a patio, he thinks any reduction in permit fees will be a help for restaurants, who often shoulder costs no one thinks of, like the getting a plumber out to unplug a sink drain in the middle of a shift. 

Many of these establishments will hopefully get a welcome break with all the FIFA excitement and extra business from tourists, and the patio spaces will play an important part, says Tostenson. 

“The soccer fans are really passionate,” he says. “They will actually travel with their teams from LA to Seattle to Vancouver.” 

An estimated 350,000 fans are expected to watch the seven matches scheduled at BC Place.

“A lot of the changes that are happening right now are in response to FIFA, to make sure that we get as much economic impact as we can from it,” he says. The BCRFA have launched their own initiative, Taste the Beautiful Game — BC Style to highlight and showcase local food, beers and wines to tourists in Vancouver as well as invite people in to watch the games in their TV viewing areas. 

Patios bring “incredible energy” to Vancouver’s streets, stated Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, and the revamped program is part of the city’s “ongoing commitment to support Vancouver’s business community.”

Other changes for this patio season include a simple, quick application process for ground-level businesses that want to set up storefront seating at no permit cost, which is extra seating against the front of the building where there is space on the sidewalk. 

Businesses can now also apply to extend their patio hours to 1 a.m. provided they meet certain requirements like having up-to-date insurance and no patio complaints for the last 12 months.

Vancouver’s summer patio season runs from April 1 to October 31.