Cafe Manto to close its doors as Covid-19 and construction hits customer numbers

A Norwood cafe that’s served customers for 20 years will close next week as Covid and construction takes its toll and fears works on a new crossing could further reduce foot traffic.

An iconic Norwood cafe that has served customers for 20 years is closing after its flow of customers was reduced to a trickle by a combination of Covid-19 and local construction.

Cafe Manto will shut its doors for the final time next week as construction of a controversial new scramble crossing at the intersection of The Parade and George St begins outside its door.

The crossing has been the subject of furious council debate, petitions and an appeal to the Supreme Court by Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council.

On one side of the argument is the NPSP council, which wants the scramble crossing – allowing pedestrians to cross from all points of the intersection at the same time.

But it claims to have been bypassed by the state government and some local businesses for the intersection to also include a new right-hand turning lane, which will remove the median strip.

On the other side are local residents and businesses, 126 of whom submitted a petition to the council in support of the intersection upgrade and its perceived safety and amenity benefits.

Work on a new intersection outside Cafe Manto on The Parade in Norwood. The cafe will close next week. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The council took the state government to the Supreme Court, arguing it had been denied procedural fairness in the decision to go ahead with the construction.

Justice Greg Parker denied the request to halt the works and the council indicated in July it would appeal the decision to the full sitting of the Supreme Court.

Oblivious to the machinations behind the scenes, owner of Cafe Manto, Victoria Wang, said she had watched her business start to decline.

“Around February, they blocked the carpark without notice so the customers couldn’t get a park. They also moved Coles away, I don’t think they are going to finish in two years,” she said.

The Coles redevelopment is part of a $110m transformation of Norwood Mall, which began in February and includes a new supermarket, retail and medical tenancies and apartments and penthouses in two five-storey buildings.

Ms Wang said after nine years in the hands of her family, the business would close next Thursday and be out entirely by the end of the month.

Shutdown cafes as Covid-19 hit and shoppers flocked to Foodland on The Parade in Norwood. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

She said she feared the crossing, which she thought would be of overall benefit, would reduce the already dwindling evening foot traffic during its construction.

“It will make it much easier for traffic and there have been a lot of accidents at the intersection,” she said. “It is just sad that it has affected my business.

“Night time we barely have customers, three or four tables at most. We used to be open until 9 but now we are sometimes closing at 7.30 or 8 with no customers.”

It is understood a new business has already expressed interest in the Cafe Manto site.

The construction of the crossing began on Friday with local businesses given notice just a day before the works began.

Notification of the upcoming works had been distributed in early August but did not have a set time for the start of the construction.

A letter seen by The Advertiser sent by the project developers to local residents and businesses on Thursday warned of the closure of a lane of The Parade for “site set up, survey and preparation work”.

Cafe Manto will shut next week because of a combination of the effect of Covid, roadworks and construction. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The bulk of the work begins on Monday, with construction expected to last for three weeks.

The expected length of the construction was reduced from six weeks to three in an effort to reduce the impact on local businesses.

The construction schedule includes nine scheduled night works between 7pm and 5am to “minimise disruption to motorists, businesses and local residents”.

One of the principle points of contention was the removal of a median island that held four flag poles and was the location for a Christmas tree every year.

There were also fears the roadworks would endanger nearby protected trees.

Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council general manager of governance and community affairs Lisa Mara said the project could have been simpler and with a better outcome.

“This is a significant impact for the local businesses which rely on dinner patrons, moviegoers and other visitors – particularly as we enter spring and the weather gets warmer,” she said.

“The concept of a ‘scramble crossing’ is to allow all pedestrian movements to occur at one time, followed by vehicular movements.

“In order to create a “scramble crossing” there is no need for major roadworks. It is simply a change of the traffic light sequence.”