Myer Centre trader pushes for centre to be closed down
A CBD cafe owner who made just $33 on Monday is pleading with her landlord to shut the Myer Centre to ensure businesses, like hers, will be able to reopen post-COVID-19.
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Opening the Myer Centre each day – without Myer actually operating – is like running a “bakery with no bread”, says cafe owner Mona Lamshed.
Ms Lamshed, who owns Jamaica Blue in the centre, said trade was already down before Myer shut its doors this week and it had only become worse.
She made just $33 on Monday – at least a 96 per cent downturn on usual trade – and is calling for the Rundle Mall centre to be shut down.
However, Myer Centre management today told The Advertiser it had no intention of closing.
“They are saying it is business as usual, but Myer isn’t open, it is like having a bakery with no bread,” Ms Lamshed said.
“If I shut, I am liable, but if the centre closes everything just freezes.
“No one is making money and it is a ghost town … what are they hanging on for?
“It is a joke … if I stay open I won’t have a business to go back to.”
The Advertiser yesterday reported 20 tenants had written to Myer Centre landlord - Singapore-based Starhill Global REIT - seeking rental assistance.
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A Myer Centre management spokeswoman said it was monitoring the evolving situation.
She declined to provide a response to whether rent would be subsidised for traders.
“The centre continues to remain open for trade in line with government recommendations and we will continue to provide a much-needed service to our community,” she said.
“We are speaking to our tenants daily and will assess any requests as they come through.”
In Singapore, Starhill Global REIT has handed out rental rebates to traders and made parking free for customers.