Local pizzeria reopening after Covid shut down

A popular Cairns pizza joint is back slinging dough after a rocky week dealing with Covid-related staff shortages. The team are now ready to welcome customers back into the Woree shop.

COVID-19 and broken fridges haven’t been able to stop the team at Pizza Del Mondo after a week of bad luck for the local favourite pizzeria.

Staff at the Woree restaurant are out of quarantine after being alerted to a close contact in store and have welcomed back customers serving up their mouth-watering pizzas.

Manager of Pizza Del Mondo, Brian Bhandula creates a large supreme pizza with the lot for a hungry customer. Picture: Brendan Radke

Pizza Del Mondo owner Brian Bhandula said the restaurant opened from Tuesday following their first Covid-related closure since the lockdown period.

“Everyone got tested after one of our workers started showing symptoms, and he did end up testing positive,” he said.

“We closed the shop for our quarantine period, everything was sanitised and ready for the opening, and I came back to a broken fridge to fix.”

But Mr Bhandula remains positive amid Covid uncertainties and staff shortages, thanks to the understanding and support of his customers.

“I have seven staff members and they don’t all work at the same time,” he said.

Brian and his team are back in store and serving delicious pizzas as of Tuesday following COVID quarantine. Picture: Sarah Carroll

“There’s no staff in the market, it’s something a lot of small businesses are struggling with,” he said.

“We went from so many people visiting over the holiday season, we were expecting that business for another few weeks.

“I know a few local business owners whose trade has been affected by the pandemic.

“On top of that, there’s no more government grants for small businesses but we know our community will help us through this,” he said.

Originally published as Local pizzeria reopening after Covid shut down