COLORADO SPRINGS — Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub and Restaurant Manager, Meredith Klube now includes in her business plan, watching the weather forecast. “I'm checking it about a week out to know how I need to adjust my staffing. You know, if it's going to be a gorgeous weekend I'll need to bring someone in just to take care of the outdoor seating." It is winter, but because of COVID-19 restrictions outdoor seating has become very important to the Colorado Springs eatery.
During the last days of January and first days of February temperatures during the day have been around 60 degrees with sunny skies. "This past weekend was our best weekend since we've been at 25% for COVID,” said Klube, “The parklette and the outside seating was a huge part of that." Under current restrictions to pub can basically double customers with its current arrangement of normal outdoor seating supplemented with extra seating added as an option during the pandemic.
The extra seating at Jack Quinn’s and other near-by restaurants on the same block of Tejon Street, happened with donations and grants coordinated through the Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership.
There are other restaurants working with grant money through the state. Colorado Governor Jared Polis just announced a second round of grants from the Winter Outdoor Dining Fund for qualifying restaurants, food trucks and bars.
You can find out more about applying for grants by clicking here.
