After being closed for well over a year, Ollie’s reopened to the public on Sept. 14. Operations at the restaurant, located on the main floor of the University Centre, look different from before the pandemic.
Most noticeably, COVID-19 measures are in place. That means masks are mandatory when not eating or drinking, physical distancing is enforced and students have to scan a QR code when they enter the restaurant. Seating capacity has also been reduced from 200 people to 80 and Ollie’s is asking students to limit their stays to an hour to ensure that everyone can be seated.
As a cost-saving measure at the onset of the pandemic, Ollie’s cancelled their liquor liability insurance, according to business manager Miguel Filiatrault. However, Ollie’s returned to full service on Sept. 23.
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The lack of liquor sales had an impact on business, Filiatrault said. After being told they couldn’t buy beer some people have turned around and walked out, he added.
CUSA vice president (finance) Venassa Baptiste said a reduced seating capacity could decrease the restaurant’s profits compared to previous years, but she added that Ollie’s revenues have remained positive since they reopened.
Despite reopening with full service, business at Ollie’s has been slower than before the pandemic, Filiatrault said. Aside from the lack of liquor sales, Filiatrault said fewer on-campus classes may be a factor behind the reduced business.
A few days into operations, Filiatrault said the restaurant has yet to be full. He added that it was too early to see the effects of the slower business on profits.
Filiatrault also said staffing costs at the pub are higher than usual. Due to the year-and-a-half-long hiatus, he said Ollie’s now has significantly more staff to train than they would in a normal year.
A backbone of Ollie’s business over the years has also been the involvement of campus clubs who would often book space at the restaurant, according to Filiatrault. These events were “key to Ollie’s success,” Filiatrault said.
Under Carleton’s COVID policies, all campus events have been cancelled, eliminating a central plank in Ollie’s business model.
The ban also extends to events organized by Ollie’s such as karaoke or trivia nights. Both Baptiste and Filiatrault said they hoped these events could eventually resume. Filiatrault said he was optimistic that the ban on events might be lifted by the end of the semester, adding that safety remains the priority.
As vice president (finance) since last spring, Baptiste said she’s been focused on reopening Ollie’s as well as other CUSA businesses. Haven Books & Café has been open for curbside pickup during the pandemic and Rooster’s re-opened on Aug. 25.
Sitting in a booth with a plate of nachos beside her and a laptop open in front of her, fourth-year student Taylor Simard said she was excited to be back at Ollie’s. She added she was happy to be able to eat and study with her mask off. Simard said she was not fussed about the alcohol restrictions that were in place at the time.
“They still have coffee and that’s more important than alcohol,” Simard said, adding she expects to return to Ollie’s over the course of the year.
Featured Photo by Anya Swettenham.
