Sydney cafe’s extreme move to support unvaccinated customers

A Sydney cafe is happy to lose money to make a stand for unvaccinated members of society in a controversial move.

A Sydney cafe has vowed to continue to only serve takeaway food until unvaccinated customers are allowed to sit inside along with the rest of society.

The owner of Bare Whole Foods, which has cafes in the North Shore suburb of St Leonards and the Northern Beaches suburb of Mona Vale, made the announcement last week.

In his self-described “open letter to the community”, the business owner said he wanted “everyone to feel welcome” on his premises and was embracing “unity” rather than “segregation” in these times.

“We are a family run business and I have 2 young daughters, some of our staff also have their own children and our business is run by people who value the importance of relationships and loved ones,” he wrote.

“We will always value family and hope that you feel the same.”

“So we have chosen to continue to operate as takeaway only until everyone is free to dine in,” his message continued.

“I want everyone to feel welcome at all times and I will never put profit before people.

“Thank you for your continued support.”

He also said his cafes had “been inundated with support from vaxxed people”.

In a statement to news.com.au, Mr Milotic believed his message had connected with his community because his open letter had received “1700 likes and 880 comments”.

“All comments are in support of my view,” he added. “Not one negative comment, which I was surprised at.”

That’s despite a number of people declaring they would never eat there again, with one person commenting on his Facebook post: “Screw you … NEVER going to your place. Too many other options available that believe in protecting society.”

Mr Milotic was also asked if he was vaccinated, but did not reply.

It comes as Greater Sydney hospitality and retail venues prepare to open their doors to fully vaccinated customers early next month once the state hits the magic number of 70 per cent double jabbed.

The cafes serve natural and healthy foods.

A number of other hospitality owners have declared they would welcome people to their restaurants, salons and pubs even if they aren’t vaccinated against Covid-19 — however nobody else has gone as far as delaying their business’ reopening day out of solidarity.

Gabriele Moretti, who owns a pizza restaurant called Amoretti’s located in Abbotsbury in Sydney’s south west, said earlier this month that the place was “open to all”.

Maria’s Beauty Bar in Sydney’s south in Kogarah Bay also highlighted they are a “pro choice salon” in a post on Instagram, which attracted 670 likes.

Chef’s Secrets in Berowra Waters in northern Sydney “welcomes everyone, jab or unjabbed” and The Brighton Le Sands Ice Creamery which wants customers “vaccinated or not” to come to the family-run business.

A beauty bar taking the same approach as Bare Whole Foods.

Other businesses, meanwhile, have done the opposite.

Earlier this week, a leaked memo revealed that retailer Best and Less will exclude customers who are unvaccinated from its NSW stores.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce has also confirmed the Australian airline will mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all passengers flying overseas, as the country gears up to reopen some international routes by Christmas.

And Crown Resorts is currently considering whether to make the jab mandatory for any of its punters, writing it would “urgently consult its stakeholders and employees regarding mandatory vaccination which could apply to all its staff and members of the public who plan to visit or stay at any of its resorts around Australia”.

Other business owners have professed their fears over what will happen when Freedom Day comes and they have to turn customers away because of their vaccinated status.

More than 85 per cent of NSW residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 59.25 are fully vaccinated, according to Sunday’s latest figures.

Crown, which has casinos in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, is considering making the jab mandatory for customers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Anti-vaxxers are second class citizens

On the first Monday after NSW hits 70 per cent double vaccinated — which is expected to be October 11 — hospitality and retail venues, gyms, sporting facilities and salons are allowed to start trading again.

However, only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the freedoms allowed under the Reopening NSW road map.

The unvaccinated in NSW have just weeks to get their jabs if they want to be able to lead a normal life in the state.

If they don’t do their bit for society, they won’t be allowed to walk into a cinema, meet their mates for a drink at the pub or travel around NSW for a holiday.

All they’ll be able to do is access “critical retail” like supermarkets and stay at home.

“You have been warned — come forward and get vaccinated or you won’t be able to participate,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said earlier this month.

“If you want to go and buy something in what is regarded as a non-essential shop, you will put up the QR code and if it is not a green light saying you have been vaccinated, you won’t be welcome inside.”