How classy dining is coming out of $160k COVID-19 ‘coma’

Forced to close down with only 12 hours’ notice, cafes, bars and restaurants have taken a huge financial hit. But now many are emerging to offer a new kind of dining.

Restaurant owners are thinking outside the box to stay in business. Picture: Visit Victoria

CAFES, bars and restaurants across the city are breaking free of the Covid-19 ‘coma’ that could cost them $160,000 in turnover this month alone.

Research by the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce has revealed that food and accommodation businesses are set to experience turnovers reduced by, on average, $160,000 in April compared to February’s pre-pandemic takings.

Chamber president Rebecca Young said the government-forced closure of all dine-in restaurants and bars a month ago hit the region’s hospitality industry like a tonne of bricks.

“It’s not a hibernation but a coma,” Ms Young said.

“In a hibernation we can prepare... for a winter with food tucked away. But it’s not like that when you only have 12 hours to shut your whole world down.”

Scores of business owners decided to close their doors for the Covid-19 ‘winter’ — prime Victoria Point restaurants including Elysium Restaurant and Bar and Hog’s Breath Cafe have closed until further notice.

It was a similar situation for owners of neighbouring Barcella, Jullianne and Perminder Thind.

But last week they joined a growing number of restaurants and cafes switching their approach to provide a new kind of dining.

After discussions with staff, the business owners last week launched a full takeaway and delivery service to loyal diners who had been missing their service.

The service also includes online ordering.

“We put something on Facebook (about re-opening) and the reaction was pretty big,” Mr Thind said.

Restaurant owners are thinking outside the box to stay in business. Picture: Brendan Radke

Barcella Victoria Point (one of two Barcella restaurants, with the second being Westfield Carindale which remains closed) will provide an in-house delivery service to nearby suburbs, and would not be recruiting the services of external delivery providers which can take a 35 per cent cut.

The couple said despite significant challenges, they were striving to seize any opportunity they could during the COVID-19 whirlwind.

“I think when we all come out the other side, the strong businesses will survive... as a restaurant there will be healthy competition in the industry,” Mr Thind said.

He said it was also a time to better grow the takeaway arm of their business “so that when the good times return a higher percentage of turnover will be from takeaway”.

They join other businesses like famed Redlands venue Courthouse Restaurant, which has launched its Courthouse@Yourhouse campaign, and nearby Harvest Cafe which is providing online ordering and payment for takeaway meals and deliveries.

FOLLOW REDLANDS COMMUNITY NEWS ON FACEBOOK