Oxford St traders ask landlords to waive rent for precinct to survive

Shop owners in the struggling riverside shopping precinct of Oxford Street have put forward an open letter to landlords to waive rent for the precinct to survive the coronavirus crisis.

Bulimba’s Thousand Island Dressing outlet was one of the latest stores to close at Oxford St. Leanne DeMartini from the Bulimba store promoted a massive clearance sale before the shop closed in January. Picture: AAP/Attila Csaszar

BUSINESS owners in Bulimba’s Oxford Street precinct are asking landlords to waive rent as restrictions to contain coronavirus toughen.

In an open letter to landlords the shop owners say small businesses in Oxford Street and all over Australia are on the brink of collapse and urge landlords to waive rent immediately to protect their own assets.

“Only this will give us a fighting chance,” the letter states.

“The new coronavirus is attacking not only humans but also businesses. We are struggling for survival, and the mortality rate of businesses will be significantly higher than that of people.

“The more businesses collapse the longer it will take the street to recover from the coronavirus fallout.”

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The letter was drafted by the Oxford Street Business Association in a desperate attempt to stop the exodus of shops from the destination which hit last year.

OSBA president Gayatri Aegerter said the group was determined to take a united stance to stop further closures.

“The situation is grim, and it’s only going to get tougher from here,” she said.

“We’re in this together. The more businesses survive, the better chance Oxford Street has to recover.”

Oxford Street’s popular restaurants such as King Crab Co are likely to face increasingly tough times. Picture: Mark Cranitch

One of the nation’s biggest shopping centre landlords, Scentre Group, owner of Westfield, has offered rent relief to retailers and Brisbane City Council has unveiled a business relief package waiving charges, rents, levies and permit fees for the city’s businesses.

The action from Oxford Street traders has attracted the support of local councillor Kara Cook (Morningside) who said the already tough trading conditions had rapidly worsened since the onset of the virus.

“We need to take a long-term view but we must act immediately,” Cr Cook said.

“Actions like rent relief from landlords that would have seemed radical even a few weeks ago are now needed urgently.

“Traders are warning the virus emergency has driven many to the brink of collapse. I’m urging landlords to help them through the crisis and work together to plan for a better future.”