Jolly Mac’s Pub has re-opened its doors as of June 1! You can visit them at 14817 108 Avenue, Surrey, BC. A 30+ year cornerstone in the Guildford/Fleetwood neighbourhood, patrons were eagerly waiting to return to one of their favourite hang-outs. I overheard one guest keenly tell their friend about the renovations they noticed since the closing, along with other changes that had been made to take care of their patrons’ health and safety.
For those visiting the pub, please take a moment to read the sign on the entrance that outlines the changes that have been made in order to help staff and guests navigate the ‘new norm’.
After you walk in, you’ll notice the hand sanitizer available to guests, and the plexi-glass guards hung all around the bar. If you’re a regular, you’ll also notice that there are a few less tables and plexi-glass partitions between booths – owner, Steve McDonald, shared that 5 tables in the lower seating area have been removed in order to accommodate the 2 meter requirement of social distancing, the upper area is opened when necessary and guests are spaced out accordingly (great for those waiting to get back to their Thursday Wing nights; there’s still room!), and condiments are brought out as needed so there’s no waste (if something isn’t’ used, for
safety, it gets disposed of); please be patient and wait for a seat – once guests vacate a table a sign goes up for cleaning before other guests can sit down.
Jolly Mac’s decided to temporarily close their doors on March 19, ahead of provincial requirements, and like all businesses that closed, the weight of uncertainty was heavy. While business may seem like it’s returned to normal, there is still very much a ‘learn as we go’ approach – a lot has changed since the closure and like many establishments out there, Jolly Mac’s is doing their best to keep operations as smooth as possible.
Fortunately, and unfortunately, the liquor store was able to remain opened during lock-down, however that also meant that they did not qualify for the wage subsidies, leaving members of their team to collect CERB and EI. Now that they’ve reopened, some have decided not to return, leaving Jolly Mac’s short on staff in an already hustle-and-bustle environment, and now one that can change overnight amidst COVID conditions.
Side note: Jolly Mac’s does have opening for servers, bartenders, and cooks – please apply within.
I moved into the Guildford/Fleetwood neighbourhood not that long ago, and Jolly Mac’s re-opening was actually the first time I’ve had the chance to check it out. I had passed by it numerous times on my transit route, and finally got the opportunity to visit when my husband was looking for places that serve breakfast, as places started to re-open. Beer? While I eat breakfast?
That isn’t cooked by me? Sign me up! We each ordered the Breakfast Sampler and it was delicious – our first re-opening breakfast. If you’re looking for something smaller, Jolly Mac’s also offers a full breakfast for $5.50!
Then I went back last weekend for my pub favourite – beer and nachos – they always taste better in a pub. You know what there’s no substitute for? REAL Happy Hour (Zoom ones just don’t cut it) – everyday between 3pm and 6pm, you can get 2 for 1 appies!
For those who’ve been waiting for it to re-open – it’s time to go! For those who’ve never been – GO! And FYI, they also have a loyalty program that applies to both pub and liquor store – you can redeem $5 for every 10,000 points you earn; every $1 earns you 20 points. Just by signing up you get 10,000 points to start. You can find their hours and menu here , and on Facebook – Jolly Mac’s Pub.
See you there – cheers!
Dear readers: As BC begins to re-open, it’s a great opportunity for businesses to welcome us back – please reach out to share local businesses that are now open so we can feature them and make sure our community knows how we can Support Our Surrey.
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