No food on the table as NT eateries shut down, downsize in face of new social distancing measures

The hearts of restaurateurs are breaking with many downsizing their operations or being forced to close altogether due to the Federal Government’s new social distancing regulations.

Brothers Michael Coleman, Tony Coleman and Justin Coleman at their business the Landmark Pub in 2018. Picture: Justin Kennedy

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THE hearts of restaurateurs are breaking as many downsize operations and others are forced to close altogether due to the Federal Government’s new social distancing regulations.

Palmerston hotspot Landmark closed its doors on Monday until further notice.

Owner and long-term businessman Justin Coleman said his focus was keeping his full-time staff employed.

“To be open at all for us, being such a large venue, our overheads – electricity, airconditioning – it’ll just be impossible to open and do takeaway,” Mr Coleman said.

“We’re trying to keep as many staff employed as we can. We’ve had to let go of all our casual staff.

“We want to see what’s coming out and work out our options as to how we can redeploy our staff, or use this time to upskill and train our staff in other areas.

“We’re very concerned for ourselves and a lot of people are in the same boat.”

Mr Coleman praised his staff following the regulation announcements.

“I can’t believe how amazing our staff were (Monday) in terms of packing up the venue, knowing a lot might not have a job the next day,” he said.

“It was an amazing thing to watch.”

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Mr Coleman is hopeful the Territory will prevail.

“If we are able to close borders and be successful in containing the spread, with our size and relative remoteness (we) might be able to at very minimum get back to some sense of normality, even if it’s just a local, Northern Territory perspective,” he said.

“I have no doubt we’ll come through it and the Territory will come through this.

“Territory industry is united no matter what.”

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said while it was too early to estimate job losses, the Territory would be hit hard.

“The health of our community is paramount, however this shutdown is devastating and many local jobs will be lost,” Mr Bruce said.

“Many staff have already been let go and unfortunately we know that some businesses that have been ordered to shut down are unlikely to reopen.”

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Mr Bruce said that while keeping businesses open was a priority, the mental health effects of the coronavirus pandemic needed to be addressed.

“Operators trying to keep their businesses afloat, workers who have lost their jobs, families worried about their loved ones and people’s ability to get together, enjoy a beer and blow off some steam,” he said.

“All of these have mental health impacts that in time, as the crisis moves from lockdown to recovery, we would like to see greater acknowledgment of.”