The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on almost every aspect of society, prompting major lockdowns, travel restrictions and business restrictions. These changes have rocked communities to the core, bringing into stark focus the importance of local businesses.
Most countries rely on tourism and an influx of travelers, however during the pandemic, now into its 10th month, travel has ground to a deadly halt.
In the province of Nova Scotia, the flow of non-residents, classified as visitors, travellers and tourists, saw a decrease of 74 percent in August of 2020 compared to August 2019, Tourism Nova Scotia tourism statistics report. In order to satisfy the Nova Scotia Government’s COVID-19 restrictions, businesses in high tourism locations such as Halifax and Peggy’s Cove have had to innovate to survive during these challenging times, leading to new and creative ways to dine and shop in Nova Scotia.
COVID-19 in the community
A previously thriving business positioned in one of the most well-known regions of Canada, Café l’Acadie is just one example of the importance of buying local. The restaurant, located in Peggy’s Cove relies heavily on travellers during the summer months, reducing staff and hours during the shoulder seasons. Considered a staple in the Acadian community of Halifax, Café l’Acadie moved from its origin location on the Bedford Highway in Halifax in 2019, having been open there since 2012. It has garnered a large following, both on social media and in regular customers.
Hoping the move to a more tourist-driven town would expand business further, Café l’Acadie moved out and became a gathering place in the close-knit community of Peggy’s Cove. After a successful 2019 season, owner Gary Le Blanc was looking forward to further expansions in the 2020 season, however his hopes were dashed with the arrival of COVID-19, which saw Café l’Acadie reduced to 30 percent capacity, 45 customers at a time compared to 150, throughout the season in comparison to 2019, and prompting swift, innovative action on the part of Le Blanc.
L’Acadie’s pivot
Forced to close Café l’Acadie’s indoor dining space during the peak of the Nova Scotia lockdown, Le Blanc got creative, and turned to take-out meals and ticket services.
“On the front windows of our café in great big huge print, I had just plastered our entire menu of everything that people could get for takeout.” Le Blanc said. “People could call ahead; they could only pay e-transfer and would get contactless service. They would pull up in their vehicle and I would put my mask on and we would bring the food out to them.”
Café l’Acadie evolved from a quaint, casual dine-in restaurant on the Peggy’s Cove Road, to a take-away or, weather permitting, dine-outside establishment. Boasting a significant parking lot, Café l’Acadie set up picnic tables to seat patrons if they so desired to eat on site, with all food provided and payed for via contactless mediums.
“They had their menu up in their windows in big print, and I thought, ‘That’s something nobody else is doing,’” Joan Hall, a member of the community and patron of Café l’Acadie, remarked in an interview. “You really felt that they were taking things seriously and I was impressed by the outside dining options.”
Fuelled by clear weather and warm days, community members came out throughout the summer, when it was safe, to support Café l’Acadie’s efforts and sustain local businesses making an effort during COVID-19.
“We aren’t really Acadian food people, but it is great to have them in our community,” said Tom Maguire, a community member of Indian Harbour. “The restaurant is immaculate. They are constantly cleaning, and the people are very personable.”
In addition to expanding their outside dining, Le Blanc also began hosting concerts to attract more customers. “Music is probably just as important an element in Acadian culture than food is.” Le Blanc said. By hosting live local entertainment, Café l’Acadie presented a more intimate dining experience, safely filling the spaces within a wide and empty dining room and creating a better experience for those within. With the concerts and the opening of the Maritime bubble, an accessible zone with no required quarantine between Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador, business returned to the community with Maritime travellers making conscious efforts to support local. Ultimately, Café l’Acadie was able to return to approximately 80 percent of its 2019 capacity in those key months.
The importance of eating and supporting local has never been more important than it is in the era of COVID-19. Local restaurants and shops are what bring our communities together, and with the necessary reduction of tourism in the summer of 2020, these businesses need local consumers more than ever. Leblanc and other business owners says this this is why it is important to think of safe, local businesses before large corporations.