Patios remain important for restaurant sales, but costs are rising

Patios continue to play a major role in restaurant revenue in British Columbia and across Canada, but operators say they are no longer the inexpensive boost they once were. Vancouver restaurateur Matthew SenecalJunkeer said patio space helped his business survive during and after the pandemic, including by expanding seating at two locations under the city’s streetside patio program. He said summer traffic at his restaurants is much higher because of the outdoor space, with sales increasing by about 20% to 30%. At the same time, he and other operators say landlords are now factoring patio value into rent negotiations, and municipalities often charge fees to offset lost parking or public space. Industry groups say demand for outdoor dining remains strong, but restaurants are balancing that demand against infrastructure, construction and cityplanning challenges.