Market Square Sunnybank: Businesses hurting after Madtongsan IV case

Businesses at a Brisbane southside food mecca were just starting to see business return following the COVID lockdown. Now, they feel like they’re back to square one after confirmation of community transmission at the centre.

Businesses at a renowned Asian food destination on Brisbane’s southside say confirmation of community transmission at the centre is a case of one step forward, two steps back.

It was this morning confirmed that a 27-year-old man from Bellbird Park had caught the virus after dining at the Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant at Market Square Sunnybank with his wife and sister, both of whom have tested negative so far, on July 23.

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Madtongsan IV is one of 11 venues confirmed as having been visited by one or both of two COVID positive teenage women, who arrived in Brisbane from Melbourne on July 21 after having travelled south for an alleged shoplifting expedition.

The owner of Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant at Sunnybank's Market Square (right) in conversation with an employee.

According to Market Square tenants, the news has precipitated a calamitous drop in foot traffic and bookings, less than two months after restaurants were beginning to see green shoots of renewal after a two-month hard lockdown.

Cafe Les Amoureux, which is only a handful of doors down from Madtongsan IV, said it has seen almost all of its bookings for yesterday and today evaporate.

Cafe Les Amoureux owner Kiat Win said his bookings have evaporated this week after news a confirmed COVID case dined at Market Square Sunnybank. Picture: Alex Treacy

“It’s really bad, you can already see a lot of free car parks out the front,” owner Kiat Win told The Courier-Mail.

“We were actually getting way better again (following the end of the lockdown at the start of June),” he said.

Market Square Sunnybank business owners and employees say news of community transmission at a Korean restaurant in the centre has repelled diners. Picture: Alex Treacy

“I’m frustrated, yes, but I don’t know how angry I should be.”

It was a similar story a few doors down at Fill the Bowl.

“People are scared to come,” employee Mandy Hui said.

Hakataya Ramen is also feeling the pressure.

“It’s dead,” employee Yoshino said.

“It’s so sad people have not taken responsibility.”

Meanwhile, rumour and innuendo are starting to fly thick and fast, compounding the issue.

A traffic controller (a rolling redevelopment is under way at Market Square) confided his anxiety to the Courier Mail.

“I’m an asthmatic, so I’m in a high-risk category,” he said.

Signs out the front of the Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant at Market Square Sunnybank. Picture: Alex Treacy

He said he had heard the COVID positive teens had visited a bubble tea shop in the centre (according to Queensland Health advice, the teens visited Heeretea Bubble Tea at Sunnybank Plaza, not a bubble tea store at Market Square) and had also used the centre rest rooms.

Madtongsan IV remains closed today. No-one is present at the store.

Madtongsan IV restaurant at Sunnybank's Market Square is closed after it was revealed one of the coronavirus positive teenagers dined there.

“Please note, this area has undergone a deep clean for your safety,” a sign at the front of Madtongsan IV said.

Other A4-size posters have been plastered around the centre, reassuring diners that Market Square is “committed to your safety and wellbeing”.

Centre management told the Courier Mail staff at Madtongsan IV had returned negative COVID tests and the restaurant had undergone a deep clean.