Alice Springs cafe continues strong growth through COVID-19 thanks to some quick thinking

QUICK thinking saved one of Alice Springs’ favourite cafes, Piccolo’s, during COVID-19

ONE year on from the onset of COVID-19, Alice Springs’ cafe and restaurant Piccolo’s is going stronger than ever.

Owners Pearl Rhanday and Rpinder Singh said that a quick adoption of a new business model, plus passionate support from locals, helped their business buck the trend and actually grow throughout the pandemic — growth that continues today.

“When COVID hit, we decided to change our business model,” Ms Rhanday said.

“We were doing deliveries before (the pandemic) but we weren’t doing it on such a large scale.

“We started doing dinner deliveries too, so we started opening for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“We did a cheaper menu at dinner time, but still good quality meals. I think we were the first business in town to turn to delivery services to survive.

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“We were very fortunate in terms of the community support. Everyone was so kind and supportive. Our sales increased 30% over that time.

“And only one staff member, in the kitchen, who was full time, who we had to stand down. But we managed to bring them back after only a couple of weeks.”

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“I don’t know how we got so lucky. But this is our town and we feel love from the community every single day. It’s a beautiful town with a beautiful community.”