COCHRANE— MacKay's Ice Cream has closed its doors for three weeks to adhere to the recently announced enhanced COVID-19 public health measures in the province.
MacKay’s Ice Cream owner Meghan Tayfel said the closure marks the first time the shop has shut its doors during the pandemic.
“We are so thankful. Our customers have been so supportive and the grocery stores have been really pushing the buy local program to support local businesses,” Tayfel said. “We can’t be more thankful for what we’ve been given."
MacKay’s announced May 7 the shop would be closed from Saturday, May 8 to Tuesday, May 25 due to rising COVID-19 cases in the province and enhanced public health measures. An added factor that prompted the move was the uncertainty small businesses faced given the public health measures.
It was a challenging decision to take a break from serving ice cream, she said, but it was one they felt was necessary.
“Everybody wants to get out and enjoy ice cream. Ice cream is a real thing during COVID, but we thought [Closing the shop] was our image and our town’s image and keeping our town safe and our staff safe and getting through this,” Tayfel said.
The shop was seeing increasingly large crowds as the weather warmed up in Cochrane and there were growing concerns at MacKays about ensuring they were properly following public health measures.
Tayfel said while many who visited MacKay’s were families that lived together it was challenging for staff to ensure groups that visited the shop were cohorts.
“We just decided that with the new rules that are tightening things even further we want to do our best and be a part of the solution and not the problem, and, as well, protect our own staff for their health and safety,” Tayfel said.
The timing of the closure was carefully chosen to avoid large crowds gathering for the May long weekend and the end of Eid.
“Customers of the different religions and cultures that [the end of Eid] is a big day for them, a big weekend for them. Food and togetherness are very important and so we always know we’re going to have a really busy weekend that weekend, as well as May long,” Tayfel said.
During the closure of the shop in the Historic Downtown, some staff has been moved to the MacKay’s Factory to help out and ensure they did not lose any work hours.
Tayfel added the majority of staff are high school or post-secondary students and she could see the stress that was being added to their lives working during the third wave of COVID-19. Some have had to stay home because of potential exposure to the virus, she said, and she remains thankful no one has tested positive for COVID-19 so far.
“That’s also been a bit of juggling act for us with them suddenly having to isolate for ten days,” Tayfel said. “We just want to be here for our staff and make sure that they are feeling safe and healthy both mentally and physically.”
Tayfel encouraged people craving an ice cream fix to pick up MacKay’s ice cream at participating stores, including Cochrane Safeway, Save-On-Foods and Shoppers Drug Mart, and safely enjoy it with their family. There are also stores in Calgary carrying their ice cream. Visit the MacKay's Ice Cream website for more information.
“We want to keep people in town doing fun stuff. But, we want to make sure we do it the right way,” Tayfel said. “We’re like every other business in Cochrane. We just hope and pray things go back to normal and we can come together as a community and enjoy the summer.”
