T.J. Baxter's Tap & Grill, at 660 Richmond St., boasts London's only heated rooftop patio. And it has proven to be a valuable asset. The restaurant's two-tiered patio features five mushroom style heaters that were installed 7 to 8 years ago, and they contribute significantly to the restaurant's business. On a night when the heaters on, sales could increase as much as 30 to 40%. Typically, the heaters operate for 20 to 30 days in London so, over a given year, the increase in sales can be substantial.

The benefits the heaters provide can also be measured by considering traffic flow. T.J. Baxter's heated patio area can seat 100 people. If there were no heaters, the patio would be empty for a number of nights a year. However, with heaters, the restaurant can accommodate 100 extra people on those nights.

General manager Brian Seguin stated that the heaters are an excellent asset and competitive advantage to use in advertising. He also pointed out that the heaters paid for themselves in under a year and have made a significant positive impact on T.J. Baxter's bottom line.

Scuttlebutt's Watering Hole and Grill, at 555 West Arthur St. in Thunder Bay, has set up radiant heaters outside its main entrance to heat lineups and de-ice the entrance. Manager Blaine Pagee says the heaters provide several benefits:

• The comfort level they provide keeps customers in the lineup on cool winter and summer nights when they normally might go elsewhere.
   

• "The heaters are also used as a safety mechanism as they can melt snow/ice and reduce/eliminate any potential hazard from buildup."
  
  

• The other benefit of snow melting is that the entrance is kept free of water and slush buildup, which reduces tracking into the bar, and lowers your maintenance time, costs, and wet floor hazard.