VIDEO: Pizza place says patio plan is perfect

Tony Katsabanis isn't worried about parking and he's thrilled about the chance to have an extended patio outside his Kelowna pizza parlour.

City Councils newly-minted patio plan will close off a large section of Bernard Avenue to traffic, but it also means more patio space outside businesses like Antico Pizza Napoletana

"I think it's a great idea, COVID or no COVID," he said. "I think it's exciting."

The temporary expansion of patios will be permitted in the downtown along with South Pandosy and Rutland. Requests by restaurants and other retailers to use public space will go to a special task force for approval.

In the case of Bernard Avenue, businesses on the south side will be able to add an additional 7.5 mere deep patio space, on the north side it will be 2.6 metres.

"I hope it goes so well that they do it every summer," Katsabanis added. "I just think it's great for people to be able to walk up and down Bernard and stop in wherever they want to stop and be able to get a seat still."

Katsabanis is the son of parents who were from Italy and Greece. He points to European cities as proof that this can work and he believes it can work here too, even if we lose parking spots.

"When you consider the thousands of people that are coming downtown every day," Kastabanis added. "A hundred spots, to me, is a drop in the bucket. I don't see a difference."

After several weeks shut down, if Katsabanis is feeling stressed, he's not showing it.

"I am smiling," he said. "I never really got down about the whole thing."

Instead he has found the support he's received, inspiring. "Kelowna has been unbelievable," Katsabanis continued.

"I get emotional just talking about it. My regulars coming in and not just me, supporting all the business and asking how we're doing. It was really good, it felt like everyone was family."