Businesses banking on reopened beaches

People appear to be heeding warnings not to inundate popular reopened Gold Coast beaches – but takeaway cafe operators are hopeful of a weekend business bump.

PEOPLE appear to be heeding warnings not to inundate popular reopened Gold Coast beaches – but takeaway cafe operators are hopeful of a weekend business bump.

Popular Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta beaches reopened on Monday, weeks after Mayor Tom Tate shut them off to thwarts crowds packing in.

Gold Coast council workers remove the barricades at Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta and The Spit. Picture: Tertius Pickard

The Spit and beachfront carparks remain closed after Cr Tate’s April 8 shutdown to slow the spread of coronavirus.

In Surfers Paradise, ESPL Coffee employees Nicholas Duedes, 21, and Shae Sullivan, 26, said they expected business to pick up as people returned to their nearby reopened beachfront.

“We have been going okay because there are still people walking and exercising near us,” Mr Duedes said.

ESPL Cafe owners Nicolas and Shea Sullivan are happy the Surfers beach is open again as its better for business. Picture Glenn Hampson

“There have been a lot more people around now they know the beach is open,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Fingers crossed it’ll help us start to pick up business too.”

Only 100 metres down The Esplanade, fellow cafe Tower 34 was thinking about closing its doors this week, but worker Catalina Suarez, 28, said the cafe remained open when management heard the news the beach was reopening.

“My co-workers said business was starting to get a lot better in the mornings,” she said.

“When the beach was open before we used to open from 7am to 3pm but had to change that to 8am to 2pm.

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“I think if we get more people, we will put on more hours again.”

All but a handful of businesses on Marine Parade, Coolangatta yesterday were closed and those who were open were quiet.

Three Sons Coffee Cartel owner Troy Hurst said his coffee shop experienced a large drop in sales when the beach was first closed.

Mr Hurst said the coming weekend would tell if things would improve by Coolangatta Beach reopening.

Beaches are back open on the Gold Coast. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

He said the shop survived road closures during the Christmas holiday period last year, the bushfires and major event cancellations but was still “plodding along”.

“They (Gold Coast City Council) closed the main road around Kirra Point at Christmas holidays, so business went straight down.

“We’re really only feeding the locals and there’s only so many of them,” Mr Sillar said.

“I think as people start to get JobKeeper and Jobseeker payments there may be a bit more money around.

“We have other restaurants and each of them is in a position of life support … but there’s enough (stimulus packages) being announced to get us through it – assuming you can get a deal done with your landlord – then you’re probably going to be OK.”

Burleigh local Ayla Beaufils is back on the Gold Coast and soaking up the sun at Coolangatta Beach since the university she studied at closed.

Burleigh local Ayla Beaufils jumps soaks up the sun at Coolangatta Beach after reopening on Monday. Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

Ms Beaufils studied full time at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney but had since moved back to Burleigh until the coronavirus restrictions ease.

The actor said to keep her spirits high she walked on the beach every morning and was “stoked” to see the beach open again yesterday.

“I go to the beach every morning to go for a walk and sometimes a dip in the ocean, but for me that’s the only time I leave the house at the moment,” Ms Beaufils said. “It’s a great way to get outside, get some sunlight and see people at least.”

Jenna Hughes and Andrew McCallum enjoying Surfers Paradise Beach after it reopened. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Down Cavill Mall icon Surfers, Charlie’s Cafe and Bar has been battling since coronavirus regulations prevented people to sit in at the cafe according to worker Tine Harrison.

“I think the weekend will improve with the beaches opening again, because there are still some people working during the week,” she said.

“Business has been bloody awful, people want to come here and sit down but they can’t.

“We had to let go around 45 staff and are down to five staff.”