Chapel St cafes record an average 12 per cent increase in takeaway sales since coronavirus outbreak
Many Melbourne businesses have fallen due to the massive financial strain brought on by the coronavirus. But one cafe owner says the pandemic has saved her business as takeaway coffee sales surge at one of our most famous shopping strips.
Inner East
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Coffee-mad Melburnians are keeping some cafes on one of the city’s most famous shopping strips afloat as stay-at-home workers flock to get their takeaway fix.
According to the Chapel Street Precinct Association, coffee sales have increased by an average of 12 per cent across the precinct’s 250 cafes since the coronavirus pandemic emerged in March.
The association’s manager, Chrissie Maus, said the spike was on the back of stay-at-home workers wanting to stretch their legs, support small businesses and grab their coffee fix close to home.
Alison Baker, who has owned her bread and coffee shop in Izett St for nine years, said she planned to close for good in September after business slumped due to construction of the nearby Prahran Square.
But Ms Baker said her takeaway coffee sales had soared by at least 38 per cent since the virus outbreak, and she planned to stay open.
“I did a big announcement in February saying I would close down when the lease runs out, but this has completely turned that around,” she said.
“It (coronavirus) has saved my business, I’m blown away and I couldn’t be happier.
“Immediately people working from home were coming out, trying to keep their usual Monday to Friday routine, and coffee sales just skyrocketed and its stayed that way.”
Lucky Penny’s manager Matt Lanigan said his Chapel St cafe hadn’t been as fortunate.
Mr Lanigan said his takeaway sales had slightly increased but he was ordering about 10kg less coffee a week from suppliers due to dine-in restrictions.
“We’re doing what we can to survive,” he said.
Ms Maus said the precinct was well positioned to benefit from the emerging work-from-home trend once the coronavirus outbreak subsides.
“More people now living and working from home is a huge opportunity for our local economy and our cafes are already seeing a spike,” she said.
“Our Melbourne CBD will see fewer people going to work and visit there – this is the future and we will benefit from this.”
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