Businesses in Regina’s downtown are slowly re-opening as Phase Three of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan began Monday.

For the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, a marketing campaign called “Reconnect, at the heart” is aiming to bring Regina residents into the downtown to help support businesses that previously needed to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Director Judith Veresuk said many businesses are excited to be back.

“I was very fortunate to go out to lunch (Monday), I was at Victoria’s Tavern, and it was a great atmosphere, they had a lot of tables filled, but obviously they’re operating at a reduced capacity from before,” Veresuk said. “People were still coming in, enjoying the food, and as we were sitting there eating, we were watching the servers do constant cleaning.”

However, it comes as many people who would normally work downtown continue to work from home, taking away the lunch crowd for many downtown restaurants.

With that being the case, Veresuk said some restaurants are a little hesitant to open as they wait to see what foot traffic will be like.

“I think it’s a real, legitimate concern,” Veresuk said. “There’s considerable cost when you have to re-open your restaurant, and if something happens where you have to close again, that is a significant loss for the restaurant.

“We have some restaurants that are definitely playing it safe and waiting to see what they lay-of-the-land is.”

Veresuk asks people heading to restaurants and bars to be patient.

“Be prepared to wait if there aren’t enough tables you’ve chosen to go to, or even better, make a reservation in advance if you can,” Veresuk said. “Take a look at the menu online — almost all of our restaurants have their menu online — so you go in there with a clear idea of what you’re looking for, what you want to eat.”

Veresuk adds an expanded RDBID Clean Team will be out in full force during the summer to ensure bus shelters, benches and hand rails are kept clean and disinfected for visitors to the downtown.