RJ's Urban Garden Cafe on Burrows Ave. W in Melfort adds patio dining space. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Patio dining

RJ’s Urban Garden Cafe adapting to pandemic challenges

Jul 10, 2020 | 12:21 PM

Adapting to the current times hasn’t been easy but RJ’s Urban Garden Cafe in Melfort is doing just that.

The downtown restaurant has added a patio to its dining experience, which will provide more socially distanced seating.

Owner Raianne Maga said the new space turned out beautifully and she is excited to be able to offer it.

“We wanted to give everyone a place to come where they could feel comfortable and feel like they were getting away and having a bit of an escape,” Maga said. “It’s important to feel safe in your home community and be able to get out and be social at a distance.”

The patio is spacious enough that patrons are still six-feet apart while enjoying a meal outside of the home.

FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Chief Moosomin School named Sask.'s sole recipient of 2025 Indigo literacy grant

1h ago

Kars 4 K9's

North East SPCA hosting car show in Melfort

7h ago

loss

Wildfire claims water bomber pilot's home for second time

22h ago

“I feel like it gives some normalcy during these trying times,” Maga said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit many businesses hard, and Maga said it would have been nearly impossible to make ends meet with the capacity limits in place.

The plans for the patio were always in the original design for the space located on Burrows Ave. W. but renovations on the inside were top priority. Maga said it also took time to see how well received the establishment would be in the community before making any additions.

“We couldn’t operate on 50 per cent seating capacity; I don’t know anybody who can and actually make that profitable,” Maga said. “We just decided that this would be the year to give it all we got and go from there.”

RJ’s Urban Garden Cafe in Melfort adds patio to their space on Burrows Ave. W. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

The community support has been incredible for RJ’s over the past three years in business according to Maga.

“So far, we have been very well received and I am so beyond grateful for the community support,” Maga said.

Other ways Maga and her staff have been thinking outside of the box over the past few months include offering grill packs for the summer as well as take-home soups. In the fall, prepared meals will be offered to assist families with meal planning.

Maga added plans are being made to offer a few other different things in the coming months.

“We are doing everything one day at a time right now with everything up in the air until things get moving,” she said.

–

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser