Eat Street closure puts event, traders at risk of ruin

A ban on public gatherings of more than 500 people will force the closure of the weekly event on the city’s Northshore, putting the livelihoods of 80 traders and about 110 staff at risk.

JOBS will be lost as family-owned businesses are pushed to the brink of financial ruin following the indefinite closure of Brisbane’s Eat Street markets due to the coronavirus crisis.

A ban on public gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday will force the closure of the weekly event on the city’s Northshore, putting the livelihoods of 80 traders and about 110 staff at risk.

Eat Street management made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the event just hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the gathering ban on Friday.

Eat Street Managing Director John Harrison said the decision would create financial havoc for traders and his company, which manages the popular event.

“We’re an icon of Brisbane and to deliver the news yesterday to our 80 vendors was heartbreaking for us,” he said.

“Everyone was in shock more than anything … some expected it, but not so soon.

“It was very sudden and that was the biggest shock to everyone … we just don’t know when this is going to end.”

Eat Street, Hamilton. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

About 50 Eat Street event staff, 40 security personnel and up to 30 cleaners who casually work at the event face an uncertain future.

“It is serious from a business perspective for vendors and us,” Mr Harrison said.

“They’ve got no income and we’ve got no income.”

Eat Street will suspend the rent of traders to provide some financial relief and organisers are considering whether to hold small functions, including a confirmed wedding next weekend, or undertake maintenance to keep staff employed.

Mr Harrison declined to speculate on how long the company could manage the financial hit while remaining closed.

“Every business is tight,” he said.

“It’s ugly times.”

Vendor Dessert Depot relies on trade at Eat Street and director Mark Daniels said his four staff now faced an uncertain future

“All of my staff now don’t have a job until we reopen,” he said.

“Not knowing when it can reopen is the biggest concern.

“We’re going to have to take it week by week because we don’t know.”

Mr Daniels has another store at Robina, which has also suffered lower trade.

“The virus is affecting every business at the moment, but we’re going to use it to try and keep people employed,” he said.

Mr Daniels said Eat Street was full of family-run businesses “and some people don’t have anything else”.

Jake and Elle Harrison at their Eat Street stall. (AAP Image/Attila Csaszar)

Jake and Elle’s Kitchen, run by former My Kitchen Rules stars Jake and Elle Harrison, is caught in the Eat Street closure.

“It’s really, really scary at the moment because we don’t know how long the waiting period is going to be,” Elle said.

“It is going to be a really tough year.

“Most of the people at Eat Street don’t have other businesses.”

While Jake has other sources of income, Elle relies on the Northshore food van.

“We’ll be greatly affected and I don’t even know what I’m going to do,”

“I’ll have to watch the cost of living for the next few months.

“I just think businesses won’t reopen.”

The pair, who launched at Eat Street in 2014, have already reduced staff from five to one following a downturn in trade due to the coronavirus.