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COVID-19 from behind the coffee shop till

From irritated to patient, Westlock café owner observed how people changed
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Kerri’s Café and Bakery owner Kerri-lee Kostiw says she’s noticed people have become more lenient and accepting since the pandemic began last year in March.

WESTLOCK — At Kerri’s Café and Bakery in Westlock, owner Kerri-lee Kostiw says she’s seen a change in her customers throughout the myriad shutdowns and re-openings brought on by a yearlong global pandemic. 

“For a while, they would come and you could tell they were irritated. They’re irritated because they have to stand in line, they’re irritated because they wear a mask. And then I think we’ve moved into this acceptance: we’re not happy but we accept,” Kostiw said. 

“I notice people are patient for the most part. And then they get their food, I can see them and they almost feel this gratitude in some ways that ‘OK, I get to do this again.’ And it’s different than it was earlier, when people were just irritated. Now they’re, I think, thankful for the little things.” 

The first ones to come back to her coffee shop when she was allowed to open it for sit-down were moms with kids. 

“You know, when you’re a mom you’re doing all these little things in town and your kids are getting antsy, they’re hungry, they have to go pee. I'm sure that for months, they just ate in the car.” 

Then the elderly couples after they get the vaccine, who Kostiw says look like they’re on a date again: “I can spot them because they feel like it’s the start of going back.” 

Students too come for the free wi-fi and a place to work that’s not the kitchen table at home — Kostiw runs a student lunch special, her downtown coffee shop is within walking distance from R.F. Staples School, and she opened the special up for university-aged students too.  

“They can pretend they’re in the city and they’re in a cool café. … They’re supposed to be out, doing their thing, and they’re not.” Kostiw herself has three daughters in university who are spending the pandemic at home in Westlock. 

With rising COVID-19 cases and a return to Step 1 of restrictions, Kostiw had to shutter indoor dining, but the patio they recently added to the building and modified for wheelchair accessibility is a saving grace. The restrictions still allow her to seat people on the patio, and she won’t be stopping the baked good production soon. 

The former Pembina Hills School Division music teacher opened the café about six months before the pandemic hit in an old house two blocks from Main Street. During the pandemic, Kostiw and her family decided to expand, purchased the old United Church building downtown and transformed it into and added a bakery. 

“I’ve been very fortunate. I can’t imagine a crazier year in business, in the restaurant business. I was told when I first applied for money, trying to get money for our first place, I only had a three per cent chance of success. It's a tough business.” 

To Kostiw, her café's success — which given the origin story is a fair assessment — is in part owed to the people who frequent the shop. Since she opened, her staff tripled in size and she hasn’t let any of her employees go. 

“I always thought if you work hard, if you’re smart about it and a little bit lucky, and if people see that, they will support you because they want to be a part of something that is positive,” Kostiw said. 

While people changed how they react to COVID-19 and the restrictions, they’ve also changed their attitudes towards shopping local. 

“I think rural communities are underestimated in many ways. I think there’s a lot of very resourceful, smart, educated, forward-looking people in rural communities. Often, people say ‘I can’t believe this is in Westlock.’ And I’m like ‘Well, why not?’” 

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