Fun spots are legal again: these Windsor-Essex businesses are allowed to reopen in Step 3

Windsor, Ont. -

Non-essential fun-centred businesses in Windsor-Essex that have been closed for months are allowed to welcome back customers in Step 3 of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopening.

Fun seekers are allowed to return to a wide variety of entertaining facilities, including Skyzone trampoline park, Bad Axe throwing, Clip n Climb, Escape Room and Windsor Rock Gym, bowling alleys and more. It is advised to call ahead to check hours of reopening and COVID-19 protocols.

Bad Axe Throwing Windsor operations manager Jarrett Jokiel has been waiting for this day for months.

“It’s been so much up and down this past year and a half here,” says Jokiel. “We’re so excited to have our regulars back in, our leagues to come back in.”

Bad Axe is allowed to reopen at 50 per cent capacity.

“We’re pretty excited just about the number of people who got vaccinated to kinda help things move a long here and we’re definitely hoping this was the last lockdown,” says Jokiel.

Axe throwers are required to wear masks while throwing, but not while sitting at tables and all the axes are sanitized between each group.

“Everything is clean and sanitized and we just all around made sure everything is fresh for everyone to come on in,” says Jokiel.

What’s allowed to reopen for other entertaining options as of Friday, July 16, according to provincial regulations:

Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:

• up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
• up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).

• Facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities will reopen with capacity limited to 50 per cent indoors, spectators limited to 50 per cent of the indoor seating capacity for up to 1000 people, and 50 per cent of the outdoor seating capacity up to 10,000 people.
• Food and drink establishments with dance floors with indoor capacity will be limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres with a maximum capacity of 50 per cent indoors and 50 per cent outdoors.
• Cinemas, museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, outdoor amusement parks, water parks, and gardens will be permitted to operate with capacity limited to 50 per cent indoors and 50 per cent outdoors, amid additional restrictions.
• Casinos will reopen, although limited to 50 per cent capacity.
• Strip clubs can operate with a capacity limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of two metres, amid additional restrictions.Super Bowl lanes welcomes back bowlers in Windsor, Ont., on Friday, July 16, 2021. (Melanie Borrelli/CTV Windsor)

Bowling alleys across Windsor Essex are also allowed to open their doors again. Tanner Mailloux was one of the first groups of bowlers back at Super Bowl lanes Friday.

I’m super excited because now I get to spend more time with my friends and family to go bowling, just something very traditional and fun.”

Customers are a welcome sight for Super Bowl co-owner Mike Doidge.

“This morning was very busy for us and it’s great to just see people again,” says Doidge.

The province will remain in Step 3 for at least three weeks, and until 80 per cent of the 12 and older population in Ontario has received at least one dose of a vaccine, and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of their eligible population fully vaccinated.

With files from CTVNewsToronto.ca.