The new normal brings no shortage of unique and entertaining ideas. Roundel Cafe in Vancouver is filling up their empty seats with mannequins to keep their customers in check and at a distance. Forget about arrows and signs — this place will make you feel like you're in Madame Tussauds wax museum, but hipper.
Restaurants and cafes can operate in B.C. right now if customers are at least two meters away from each other and the staff, according to WorkSafe B.C.
Most eateries are opting to place signs and arrows around their establishments to direct their guests.
But this cafe went above and beyond to create a pretty unique experience for their customers.
Narcity spoke to Dena Sananin, who told us how she went about bringing the mannequins in.
"Back in May, when we got the word that restaurants could re-open at a limited capacity, my chef, Miguel Alcala and I were workshopping the best way to proceed," she said.
She half-jokingly mentioned that they place mannequins around the cafe. Right away, Sananin realized that this could be worth looking into, so she tried to source some fake people for her cafe. "However, they were costly," she said.
That's when her chef, Alcala, suggested that she talk with Burcu Ozedimer, owner of a local vintage store, Burcu's Angels.
Courtesy of Roundel Cafe
Courtesy of Roundel Cafe
"She was totally game, so this is how it started," said Sananin.
The cafe got all their mannequins fitted in the store ahead of their May 29 relaunch date. Up until that date, the cafe had only been doing take-out services.
When customers first stepped into the cafe after months, they were treated to quite the spectacle. "Customers are enjoying them. They are definitely a hit," she said.
Courtesy of Roundel Cafe
Courtesy of Roundel Cafe
They're five mannequins in total. Sananin said, "Burcu has them dressed beautifully."
The mannequins are scattered around the entire place. From the bar to the window to the booths, you'll get a glimpse no matter where you sit.
Sananin told CBC News that she wasn't keen on putting signs everywhere because her cafe has a cozy atmosphere. This way, she feels that the warmth of her diner is kept alive despite the physical requirements.
Courtesy of Roundel Cafe
You only have to look at the photos to realize that the addition of the mannequins has brought an entirely new aspect to the dine-in experience.
This isn't the first place to get creative in making sure people understand the two-meters-away rule. Ontario has been using hockey sticks, dogs, and geese to illustrate the measurement.