Biz booming again on Bernard

Photo: Jim Judd

Amanda Steene, left, of Niagara Falls, On and Sarah Syvitski, of Hamilton, On, relax in the sun on the patio at Mimi`s Restaurant on Bernard Ave in Kelowna, while Mimi`s manager Tyler Nielsen serves them. Bernard Avue from Pandosy to City Park re-opened Friday afternoon after the newly completed revitalization project wrapped up.

As the sun finally peeked through clouds Saturday afternoon, the streets of Bernard Avenue were once again filled with shoppers, sightseers and others collectively enjoying the improvements and reduced vehicular traffic.

Bernard Avenue between Pandosy and City Park - the busiest section of the local main street - once again opened to vehicular traffic for the first time in more than three months on Friday afternoon.

And it couldn't have come at a better time as most entrepreneurs breathed a collective sigh of relief that things are back to normal.... or at least getting there.

The Bernard Street revitalization project, which began last summer on the north section of Bernard between Richter and Ellis, has now completed its second phase and only the lone block between Pandosy and Ellis Streets remains to be upgraded. That portion will be revamped beginning after Labour Day Weekend in September.

Meantime, it was business as usual for Bernard Street businesses.

Ìt`s very nice to have it open,`said Shanna Albrecht, an employee of Blonde, a clothing store on the block between Water Street and City Park.

``We do anticipate for sure that things will be back to normal or better,`said Thomas Dimitriadius of The Paramount Theatre, located on the same block.

Across the street, at the Bean Scene Coffee House, barista Pam Higgins reflected a sense of humour she hasn`t lost in spite of the lengthy inconvenience.

`Kelowna seems to be more awake, suddenly` she said. `Good thing we`ve got coffee`.

Meanwhile, many businesses, which left applying for a patio license with the city until the last minute, are now caught up in the waiting game for approvals. However, that isn`t the case with one restaurant.

``It seems like summer in the Okanagan again,` said Tyler Nielsen, manager of Mimi`s Italian Grill Restaurant which quickly set up its outdoor patio area and welcomed early diners Saturday afternoon as the sun showed itself on that side of the street.

The revitalization included widening of the sidewalks, to allow more outdoor patios and easier movement for pedestrians, while vehicular traffic has been reduced to a single lane in each direction. There are also new and numerous benches and other niceties.