The impact of Schoolies on trade in visitor magnet hub Surfers Paradise
As thousands of high school graduates swarm the streets of Surfers Paradise, just how do local businesses fare? Most are down but some are stoked. Hear from 20-plus venues.
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Most businesses in Surfers Paradise are hanging out for Schoolies to end, outlining a dramatic drop in trade as the thousands of school leavers take over the visitor hub.
Except a few are having a spike including Condom Kingdom - though the manager said there was a “concerning” lack of interest in actual condoms.
Lime Mexican Tapas Restaurant and Bar
Manager Holly Turner said she was “not prepared” for the “huge drop” in business Schoolies would bring.
From a usual figure of $8000 a day to “not even” $3000 on Saturday, to Tuesday’s figures dropping from a usual $5000 to $602, Ms Turner said the numbers were “shocking” to see. “It’s impacted us by thousands and thousands this week. I’m probably going lose 20-30,000,” she said.
“I thought my supervisor stuffed up the report as I was off, but no - it’s just that bad.”
Ms Turner said she had never experienced “anything like this” and was fearful that the business may lose staff as a result of them having no work.
“Make them go away, they’re not spending money,” she said.
Blow Bar Lane Hair Salon & Cocktail Bar
Manager Nikki Parissaid business “isn’t doing the best”, and the sheer number of Schoolies deter locals away from the area.
“The locals all run just away and we don’t get as many walk-ins,” she said.
Poke California
Manager Michael Kanj told the Bulletin business was, “steady” and that this year’s Schoolie’s had been very well behaved compared to previous years.
Blueys Beer + Burgers
Manager Jerry Spatz said sales “slumped incredibly” and the venue had lost most of its local trade.
Learning from the “experience”, Mr Spatz said he was switching things up and giving the Schoolies “what they want” writing up specials menus to see the event out.
“I’m picking up banners this afternoon for Schoolies specials just to get them in … burnt and learnt this year - gotta be smart next year,” he said.
TB’s Wine + Beer
Tyrrell Naleba of TB’s Wine + Beer said sales were “up there”, with business being both busy and consistent.
He told the Bulletin Vodka Cruises and Suntorys were their bestsellers with Guava being the Schoolies flavour of choice.
Central Lounge Bar and Dining
Owner Regis Broadway said business was “great” and that this year’s trade was “quite positive” compared to previous years.
Putting that down to more of this year’s Schoolies being of legal drinking age, Mr Broadway said the venue usually saw a spike in business come the second week of Schoolies, “there’s a lot more 18 year olds … we usually do business better in the second week but we’ve seen really great business in the first week.”
Along with cheaper catering and “keeping it simple”, Mr Broadway said “keeping menu items around the $15 mark” was the way to cater to Schoolies.
Experience Oz
Lisa Haris of Experience Oz, a travel and adventure booking agency, said business has been “very quiet” since the Schoolies arrival on Saturday, with Ms Haris putting it down to families and holiday makers “learning from last year”.
Waxy’sIrish Pub
Waxy’s Irish Pub manager Samantha Murrary said local business has “disappeared a little bit” but the Schoolies specials was driving business in.
Condom Kingdom
Condom Kingdom manager Kenta Kawahata said the store has been “absolute chaos” resulting in staff numbers doubling: “It has just been that busy, especially because it hasn’t been at this capacity for such a long time.”
Mr Kawahata said Schoolies were “coming in for a bit of everything … some condoms but not too many which is a little concerning.”
Thirsty Camel
Manager Whitney Cooper reported sales “probably doubled” resulting in some of their most popular Schoolies stock running out. Ms Cooper said the store had “gone through that much s
stock it feels like it’s (Schoolies) been going for weeks”.
La Porchetta
Manager Fabian Inturrisi said all day Schoolies specials had kept business up and “good”.
Fun 4 Rent
Peter Evans from Fun 4 Rent said business was “worse” as a result of holiday makers “avoiding” the area. He said a combination of Schoolies not having “any money” along with reduced trading hours due to street closures was significantly hitting the business.
Charlie’s Cafe & Bar
Charlie’s Cafe & Bar manager Kayo Alves said “business is bad”.
“Mornings are okay, but after that it’s dead,” he said.
“They all want to cook at home otherwise they’re opting for fast food, easy and cheap … even with the specials they don’t work - it’s just families.”
Mr Alves said after working on the Glitter Strip for five years this was typical of the Schoolies period.
Kitty O’Shea’s Irish Bar & Resturant
Supervisor Brent Taylor said business was “generally quieter,” saying it wasn’t financially viable for Schoolies to drink out.
“It’s cheaper for them (the Schoolies) to buy alcohol than come out … one shot costs as much as a six pack,” he said.
Surfers Pizza Kebab
Sam Khanchi of Surfers Pizza Kebab said business had been, “pretty busy” and that it was all “business as usual”.
BWS on Hanlan
A staff member from BWS said the store had been, “really busy” with sales of Guava Vodka Cruisers “through the roof”.
Nahm Talay Thai Restaurant and Bar
Manager Jop A said the oceanside venue had been “very quiet compared to usual”. Ms A said sales for the restaurant had dropped by half since its recent opening.
Hogs Breath Cafe
Morgan Wynn of Hogs Breath Cafe smack-bang in the middle of the precinct said Schoolies had been “quiet at first,” but after promoting Schoolies specials business had “picked up and has been nice and busy today”.
Surfers Paradise Tattoo
Staff said business had been “about the same” since Schoolies started.
Resident tattoo artist Nate Lavell said compared to the “mayhem” of past Schoolies, this generation is tame”.
“They’re better behaved than I’ve seen in the past,” he said.
“They’re not getting dumb things.”
Kangi, a piercer, said schoolies were coming in to get their teeth whitened, brows shaped, and “responsible” tattoos and piercings.
“A guy came in and got a rose for his grandmother, and someone got a butterfly for his mum,” she said.
“They’re making more responsible decisions.”
Oakberry Açai
Staff at Cavill Ave’s hole-in-the-wall Oakberry Açai shop have been “busy all day” making cold treats.
“We’ve been here a year and a half,” staff Beatriz Rodrigues said.
“It’s been busy all week with Schoolies, last year with Covid it was quiet but this year it’s so busy.”
Airbrush Tattoo vendor
Schoolies queued outside the newly revamped Paradise Centre for airbrush tattoos – a chance for 17 year old schoolies to have a test-run tattoo.
The vendor said he had been busy all week with schoolies in town.
Schoolies sat as they waited for piercings at Unicorm piercing professionals inside the shopping centre.
Brisbane graduates Nicole Gomes Da Costa, Paris Hodges and Isabel Boaldin had been waiting 30 minutes.
“They (staff) said we might have to wait another 30 minutes, but that’s okay,” said Nicole, who was getting a helix piercing.
Originally published as The impact of Schoolies on trade in visitor magnet hub Surfers Paradise
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