Surfers Paradise Chinese restaurant loses $30,000 a week on back of coronavirus crisis

The impact of the coronavirus for Gold Coast Chinese restaurants is potentially devastating, with locals urged to visit struggling businesses to keep them afloat.

MELBAS Asian Seafood restaurant was turning over $40,000 a week before the coronavirus was declared a global threat. That figure has plummeted to $5000.

“The impact has been immediate,” said Chris Gibson, operations manager for Melbas Hospitality. “This is potentially devastating for us and if the condition doesn’t change in the foreseeable future — it’s not looking good at this stage.

“For the past 12 months we’ve worked hard on building up Melbas Asian Seafood restaurant, running local and tourist campaigns and focusing on customer service and getting the food absolutely perfect,” he said.

Melbas Asian Seafood restaurant's operation manager Chris Gibson is urging locals to support business hugely impacted by the coronavirus. Picture: Jerad Williams

“When we started the revamp the restaurant was taking in between $5000-6000 a week but over a period of six months we managed to get it churning over sales of about $25,000-30,000 a week.

“And in the last two weeks before the WHO (World Health Organisation) declared the coronavirus a global threat we were doing $40,000 every week.”

Mr Gibson said the impact on the burgeoning restaurant was swift and immediate.

“We’ve plummeted straight back to square one, now we’re lucky to take $5000-8000k a week,” he said.

“Unfortunately one of the things that this virus has created is an element of mass hysteria. “There’s a stigma on the local market and because people think it started in China they are not supporting local businesses because they’re scared.

“The way it’s sort of festered has not only affected every Chinese food business, but any and all businesses associated with Asia in general being impacted.

GRAVE FEARS CHINESE TOURISTS WON’T BE BACK UNTIL OCTOBER

Chris Gibson believes trade has been hugely impacted by the coronavirus. Picture: Jerad Williams

“If locals don’t help support small businesses, when all is said and done there might not be any businesses left.

“Don’t forget about us, we’re all here ready to serve you with a smile on our faces and it’s business as usual.”

He said the Gold Coast City Council had a role to play in helping to “drum up some local consumer confidence in the industry”.

“There’s dozens of for sale signs on the Gold Coast Highway, but not all of these are new, businesses on the Gold Coast have been suffering for a while.”

“The council needs to get on board with locals businesses and think about how it can focus its attention on helping Chinese and Asian restaurants who are suffering.”

Half-a-dozen Chinese restaurants contacted by the Bulletin confirmed numbers were significantly down, with one operator saying “everywhere is struggling”.