GHOST TOWN: Restaurants shut, NYE festival cancelled

The streets of Lismore look set to be very quiet over the next couple of weeks.

A number of Lismore restaurants and cafes are taking a well-earning break.

LISMORE looks set to be very quiet over the next couple of weeks, with some much-loved restaurants closing their doors for a well-earned break, and the popular Tropical Fruits event cancelled.

Tropical Fruits is usually held over four days and brings thousands of people into the city.

It is a huge boost to the local economy.

But it was yet another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic and organisers were forced to pull the pin.

Earlier this year, Tropical Fruits announced the cancellation of the 2020 festival.

“After much consideration, the committee unanimously felt that the safety of our community must always come first,” they explained.

Tropical Fruits sadly pulled the pin this year amid COVID concerns.

“This decision did not come easily, but we want to keep our Fruity Family and our club strong for the future.

“While we recognise the cancellation of the festival will have a big impact on our wider Northern Rivers community, we are committed to bringing you even more fabulous Festivals and events in the future.”

With one of the region’s biggest events off the cards, tourism numbers are expected to be down.

And several of Lismore’s favourite restaurants and cafes have also announced they are shutting their doors for a break over the festive season.

The Loft broke the news on its Facebook page, saying it was closed from December 20 until January 13.

“To all of our wonderful customers, thank you so much for your support through this year that we will never forget,” they wrote.

The Loft in Lismore will be closed over the Christmas break.

“We hope that you’ve all managed to find the silver linings through the series of challenges we’ve all faced.

“We’ve certainly felt the love from all of you, and we’re incredibly grateful.

“Although we’re not yet out of the woods with this pandemic, I’m sure we can all still look forward to turning a new page as a new year approaches.”

The Stockpot Kitchen is closing from Christmas Day and reopening on Tuesday, December 5.

“In lieu of recent events, like the whole year, we will be taking a break to regroup and patch our minds back together,” they wrote on their Facebook page.

“Thank you all for your unrivalled support during this sh*t of a year and here’s to a cracker of a new one.”

The Pit Crew Gray Stockdale, of The Stockpot Kitchen, and chef Jim Diliberto are taking a well deserved break over Christmas.

The Bank Cafe closed its doors on December 22 and will reopen on December 30.

“We’ve always positioned ourselves to be the ‘go to’ at this time of year, and so many of you rely on us being so,” they posted on Facebook.

“However given this most strange year we’ve had, many of our staff have not seen their families for a year.

“So please kindly grant us a full week of boundless Christmas joy, and wishing the same back to all of you.

“We’ll be back in the trenches through New Year’s.”

Flock Espresso & Eats is also closed from December 25 and reopening on January 5.

Uncle Lim Asian Fusion is closed from December 25-28.