How Gold Coast businesses are faring during the Commonwealth Games

WE hit the streets of Southport, Broadbeach and Currumbin to chat to local business owners. This is what they had to say about trade during the Commonwealth Games.

SOUTHPORT businesses are being forced to send workers home early and cut staff hours as they struggle with a lack of customers on the fifth day of the Commonwealth Games.

A worker at Max Brenner in Southport said the games had been hyped up so much that they hired more staff and bought more stock.

But the customers just aren’t showing up.

Huge line ups at the Deck Cafe during the walk race event

“It’s been very quiet, I think it was just hyped up so much that no one is coming out, I don’t know where everyone is, it’s actually quieter than an average day,” they said.

“There are lots of people around but they all seem to be going straight to the games.

“We put on more staff and got in more stock but it looks like that wasn’t necessary.”

Owner of popular coffee shop Tap and Grind, Vanessa Rubini, said it had been one of the quietest weekends ever.

Australia Fair West in Southport. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“It’s been quiet, it’s been so quiet, we had a couple of lunch rushes throughout the week but today has been super dead, I’ve had to send staff home and cut so many hours,” she said.

“We backed ourselves up with so much extra stock as well, it’s pretty disappointing.”

Mobile Plus Southport manager Sam Yang said he felt the lack of customers was due to people being too scared to drive due to potential traffic issues.

But one Southport business is going beyond expectations.

Emily Seebohm of Australia swims during the Womens 200m Backstroke Heats on day four of swimming competition (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Lowes in Australia Fair said they were “absolutely blitzing it” thanks to their decision to sell official Commonwealth Games merchandise.

“We’ve had our biggest trading week and the opening day of the games was our biggest day ever, but it’s all down to the merchandise, without that we’d be struggling like all the other businesses,” a worker said.

A pop-up stall in the centre is also faring well, with dozens of customers lining up to buy shirts and Borobi dolls, all day.

Meanwhile at Currumbin, location seems to be the key to securing a solid trade during the

Commonwealth Games, as those in event spaces feed the masses while those at the border get left behind.

Liz and Nigel Milnes of Devocean

Like Southport during the Triathlon period, Currumbin beach front businesses are feeling a boost during today’s race walk event.

The shift a welcome change for the Pacific Parade eateries who have reported a “ghost town” over the Easter holiday period.

“It has been flat out for us this morning, business picks up each time the race finishes,” The Salt Mill cafe manager Richelle Murphy said.

“Local haven’t been able to get in with all the works, it’s supposed to be our busiest time of the year.

“But we are getting into the Commonwealth Games — why not, ” she said.

The situation was the same for Devocean cafe.

“We have gone from our quietest day ever to maybe one of our busiest for coffee,” owner Nigel Milnes said.

“It has been a ghost town with the work, so this is a nice change.

“But we have been looking forward to the games, it is exciting,” he said.

Sue at the Currumbin Beach convenience store had fewer concerns.

“I don’t have a problem, what we lost from the closures we picked up in tradie business during the work,” she said.

Yet for Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club General Manager Chris Kelly, local customers are sorely missed.

Gold Medalist, Gemima Montag of Australia consols the disqualified Claire Tallent after during the Women's 20km Race Walk Final (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

“It is still quiet for us, on a regular Sunday we would be doing a lot more than this,” Mr Kelly said.

As the surf lifesaving club is positioned a few blocks away from the competition foot traffic is harder to come by.

“We are down to the tune of 70 per cent, the streets have been empty and I think the locals have been spooked.

“I think a lot of people have skipped town.

“We are still geared up for it, but I think it was the Sunshine Coast and northern NSW that had a great Easter,” he said.

At Broadbeach, you could have shot a cannon down the streets yesterday.

But business this morning is picking up around the Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls event at Broadbeach Bowls Club.

Crowds at the Lawn Bowls on day three of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Broadbeach Bowls Club. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Cafés surrounding the event had suffered miserably since the competition began on Thursday.

Adding insult to injury for one local cafe, Metro Coffee, saw traffic stewards directing customers away from the business for no good reason.

Yesterday stewards funnelled foot traffic down Old Burleigh Road and Broadbeach Boulevard to the east entrance of the bowls, away from Metro Coffee on Surf Parade where there is also an entrance.

Owner/operator of Metro Coffee Andrew Naismith said the misdirection likely cost the businesses thousands of dollars.

But Mr Naismith, whose cafe was full this morning, was happy businesses was improving today.

“It’s catch up time now from before, but today is the busiest we’ve been so I can’t complain,” Mr Naismith said.

“People have been spending which is great.

“The locals aren’t here — I think everyone’s perception was that it would be hard to get here and get around.”

One Broadbeach restaurant shrouded in the shadows of the Broadbeach Bowls Club grandstand says that Commonwealth Games infrastructure has been an impost to her business.

After training staff up for the past few months in preparation for a Games surge, Cheryl Bench, owner of Lolas Restaurant, has had to cancel the shifts of up to five staff and has one chef that hasn’t worked for two weeks.

Meanwhile, what Ms Bench thought would be a 40-hour week for many staff has become an eight-hour week.

“It’s been terrible,” said Ms Bench, “If I couldn’t see it on telly I wouldn’t know the Games were on.”

Ms Bench said the downturn has lasted many months, destroying the typical summer harvest she relies on to keep her sustained during the rest of the year.

“Usually this is my busiest time of the year, when we bank our money for the cold, winter months. But right now we are doing about a quarter of our normal turnaround,” she said.

Lolas Restaurant at Broadbeach has been struggling with Games trade.

Ms Bench said her restaurant had done better business today and was hopeful that next Sunday’s marathon, which comes through Broadbeach, would prove to be a boon.

“Today is the busiest it’s been. Business picks up when spectators come out of the bowls at 2pm when there’s a break of play,” said Ms Bench.

Despite her diminished returns, Ms Bench still believes the Commonwealth Games are beneficial for the city.

“Look, I think it’s a good thing for the Gold Coast. But I think it has scared [the locals] away, whether it’s overseas or off these roads.”