Back to business: Rice Boi rejoices as restrictions ease
Hungry diners are expected to return in droves as new restrictions kick in today, with mega-popular Mooloolaba eatery Rice Boi able to triple its seating capacity.
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HUNGRY diners are expected to return in droves with mega-popular Mooloolaba eatery Rice Boi able to triple its seating capacity.
With the State Government relaxing restrictions, given Queensland's control over the coronavirus pandemic, it is one step closer to normality for the battling hospitality industry.
Prior to the pandemic, Rice Boi was firing on all cylinders, ushering 6000 people through its doors each week.
While the lockdown forced the street-food juggernaut to close for nine weeks, owner Tony Kelly said it wouldn't be long until the hustle and bustle returned.
Mr Kelly said the lifting of some restrictions, which come in at noon today, would allow the venue to safely cordon off patrons throughout the 500sq m venue.
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"We now seat 20 people in the restaurant, 20 in the beer garden and 20 upstairs," Mr Kelly said.
"So it is certainly good news for us. It's essentially three times better than what it was.
"The support we have had has been unbelievably good. From the second we reopened two weeks ago, people supported us."
Mr Kelly said the latest restrictions would help "trigger" the reopening of another of his establishments, Spiro, and in turn hire more staff.
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"At the moment, I am placing an advertisement on Gumtree as we speak," he said.
Mr Kelly said some of the more stern restrictions had been devastating but that the venue had enjoyed "fantastic" takeaway.
"The 10-person rule was ridiculous. It should have been the four square metre rule from the start," he said.
"Having only 10 people was never going to work for us. We rely on volume because our food is so cheap.
"It just mean we can go back to being a business again and not being a dormant vehicle."
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Health Minister Steven Miles yesterday urged venues to keep adhering to strict social-distancing rules when they reopened to more customers.
"With a COVID-safe industry plan, venues with more space will be able to go further and allow up to 20 people in each separate area, seated for meals or drinks," Mr Miles said.
"For example, some surf clubs, pubs and RSLs may have four or five defined separate indoor and outdoor areas - they can have 20 people in each of these areas if the areas are big enough."