Lengthy approval process for CaféTO program results in huge financial losses: restaurant owner

A Toronto restaurant owner who takes part in the city's CaféTO program says the length of time it's taking to get approved to participate in the program results in huge financial losses.

Cherrie Stinson says after submitting an application on March 29, the approval only arrived this weekend.

Even with the approval, which Stinson said she received via email, she still does not know when she can start installing a patio.

"The next steps are something to the fact that we have to first send our insurance to the city, and then the second step is to pay for the application, and then we will receive another email as to when the traffic people are going to be reviewing our patio again," Stinson told CBC Toronto . 

She said the traffic department will come in and install concrete barriers, after which they will be able to set up.

"But there's no date or time. It just says a couple weeks, which is like going into June, and it's nice out [right now].

CaféTO allows restaurants and bars to open expanded outdoor spaces on sidewalks and in curb lanes from spring to fall. It was introduced in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions on indoor dining. 

A study funded by the city estimated that CaféTO generated more than $203 million in economic benefits in 2022, with more than 1,300 businesses taking part. A November 2022 city survey of hundreds of restaurant owners and businesses adjacent to patios, as well as more than 7,000 members of the general public, found solid support for the program.

"One good thing from COVID was the fact that Toronto finally allowed us to spread our wings onto the street and give energy to the city," Stinson said.

"Unfortunately, it's just very unorganized it seems and we like to prepare things in the restaurant business … every day is a crazy day and it would be nice to have some notice, be able to prepare and understand when we will make that extra revenue, but we obviously don't have an idea. 

"And then this year we have to pay for it of course, so the longer they take, the less profit we make by them dragging their heels," she added.

Stinson said she wants to take part in  the program because "it does create lots more revenue for us, by having the extra patio.  I'd like to take advantage of the weather and it would be nice if it was quicker."

According to Stinson, missing out on the Mother's Day weekend and the upcoming Victoria Day weekend will result in "huge" losses for her business.

"We have to hire extra people in the kitchen and when we don't have the revenue to pay for those extra people — servers and culinary staff — it's basically like we have to pay them," she said.