Patio season over for some ByWard Market businesses for NCC renovations

A historic courtyard in Ottawa’s ByWard Market is set to be renovated, forcing the closure of some popular patios. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

Some restaurants in Ottawa’s ByWard Market are bracing for a significant financial blow after the National Capital Commission (NCC) informed them they have to close their patios while renovations take place in the Clarendon and York courtyards.

The NCC says that work is being done in the historic courtyards on Clarendon Lane starting in August.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the Crown corporation says the closures will be to facilitate work in the area that will “preserve heritage elements, improve access and update storm water management.”

Business owners and managers say the NCC’s decision to close their patios was done with little consultation and is going to have devastating consequences at the height of patio season in one of the most picturesque and sought after spots in the city.

At Dark Fork, which sits on George Street near Sussex Drive, owner Moe Alameddine says he set up his patio in the courtyard just weeks ago. Now, he has to take it all down.

“We spent money and time and a lot of effort to make this happen. And suddenly you cut us? This is not acceptable,” he said.

Alaeddine says he was told about the work two weeks ago and was caught off guard.

“With very short notice, they kill the season,” he says. “They kill the business.”

It’s a costly decision at the height of the patio season. He says he’s set to lose out on at least $50,000 in potential revenue. He says he’s also going to have to cut eight members of his staff.

The Dark Fork is a unique restaurant concept that employs blind servers who attend to patrons in the dark inside, while on the patio, deaf waiters and interpreters serve customers.

He says the patio servers cannot be moved inside.

“Some businesses - they survive on this season like this. Two months are very important for the restaurant business and the city,” Alameddine said.

The NCC says the work will finish in the spring of 2026.

“We understand the impact these much-needed repairs will have on our tenants and are working with them to help minimize disruptions,” the statement from the NCC says.

“We adjusted our construction plans and timelines to reduce disruptions to patio season for this year and next year as much as possible.”

Across the courtyard at Social Restaurant and Lounge, the restaurant’s general manager Jessica MacEwen says closing patios at the height of the season is extremely disruptive.

“Sixty per cent of our business in the summertime months is patio activity,” she said. “So unfortunately, we’re going to really be at a loss.”

The restaurant is part of the E18teen Hospitality Group, which consists of five restaurants that have patios in the complex. David Godsoe, the group’s director of food and beverage, says the “most frustrating thing is the lack of communication and the short notice.”

He says the restaurants, Restaurant E18teen, Social, Sidedoor, The Clarendon Tavern and The Hyde, are expecting at least $200,000 in lost revenue collectively.

“Renovations will have a huge impact on customers,” he said.

MacEwen says she has already had to tell two August weddings about the changes and has concerns about the coming weeks.

“Obviously devastating,” she says of the impact.

“We are a really event-forward summertime destination, which means I do host a lot of weddings in the summertime. And a lot of the discrepancy right now is that the devastation for my brides and grooms who are coming in for August, who will not be able to take their patio pictures outside or have their ceremonies hosted on my patio.”

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