Iconic Darwin restaurant Pee Wee’s at the Point ready to reopen

ICONIC Territory restaurant Pee Wee’s at the Point is finally reopening this week amid economic uncertainty.

Pee Wee’s restaurant manager Maria Tendilla and assistant manager Ronald Dallakoti are looking forward to welcoming back customers. Picture: Che Chorley

ICONIC Territory restaurant Pee Wee’s at the Point is finally reopening this week amid economic uncertainty.

The high-end dining destination, which reopens on Wednesday, lost almost half of their staff after they were forced to close down three months ago due to COVID-19.

Owners Lily and Simon Matthews said while they were excited to get back to business, making it through the dry season without tourists was going to be a real challenge.

“I would say we’ll be down at least 60-70 per cent this year compared to last Dry,” Mrs Matthews said.

“We’ve already been booked up for the first weekend but whether that interest flows on into July and August is unclear at this stage.

“I think we just need to get to work, head down bum up, and wait and see how it goes.”

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She said more than 90 per cent of their wedding and functions bookings for this year had either been postponed until next year or cancelled completely.

“I think the biggest impact for us is not doing the functions we’d normally be doing during the dry season that would sustain us to trade during the wet season,” she said.

While many Northern Territory restaurants reopened on May 15, Pee Wee’s owners decided not to reopen until Stage 3 restrictions are lifted on June 5.

“We found that two-hour time limit too difficult to police and people who come to Pee Wee’s do it for the dining experience,” Mrs Matthews said.

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During the three-month closure, she said the business only managed to hold on to about half of their staff with visa holders and part-time workers leaving to find other jobs to sustain themselves.

“I actually have three staff that are stuck overseas, one in Argentina and two stuck in Italy, so we’re really hoping the borders open soon as it’s safe to do so,” she said.

“We totally understand where the Chief Minister’s coming from, but at the same time, we would like our staff back.”