
The owner of the Blue Grotto nightclub in Kamloops is thrilled to see the return of dancing as B.C. moves to ease COVID-19 restrictions, starting Thursday, Feb. 17.
Pup Johnston tells NL News that dancing with masks on is still better than not dancing at all.
“It is going to be difficult to police and enforce it as things go on as people start to party more. I am sure it is going to be taxing for my staff to police it, but we’ll rise to it. We’ll get it done,” he said.
“We’re just hoping that everybody actually comes out this weekend. We’ve got the Angie Heinze Band coming in and I’m looking forward to it.”
Johnston says he is confident that people will be able to follow the two rules they need to so that his business will be able to open at 100 per cent capacity for the first time since March 2020.
“They do have to wear their masks when they’re on the dance floor. They don’t have to wear their masks when they are seated at their table. That is really all they have to do for the luxury of having the bar open and at full capacity,” he added, noting you’ll still have to show your COVID-19 vaccine card to get into nightclubs.
“You’ll be able mingle again. You’ll be able to pool with again with people not in your group. It is going to be almost like 100 per cent back to normal.”
Johnston adds he was a little surprised that the restrictions on nightclubs were lifted this week, noting he was expecting to have to wait a little while longer.
“Probably my biggest concern is just getting the staff up and running on short notice. For example, one of my favourite bartenders is out racing snowmobiles this weekend, so she won’t be there,” Johnston said. “Some of our other staff we just lost through attrition. Being shutdown for two years, they went out and found other jobs.”
“We’ll struggle through that, but we’ll get through that as well.”