Geelong cafe owner 'in tears' as customers fundraise for council-mandated bollards
Community rallies behind struggling cafe forced to choose between $4000 council compliance costs and losing crucial outdoor seating revenue.
A small, charity-focused Geelong CBD cafe has been forced to rely on the kindness of their customers to fund new bollards required by council to accommodate outside seating.
Restoration Coffee, located on the corner of Bellarine and McKillop streets, has had outside seating for three years, but was recently informed by the City of Greater Geelong it is required to spend upwards of $4000 to install bollards.
Owner Sharon de Been said the news was a “kick in the guts” for the small, family run business that relies on its outdoor seating.
“It’s just too much,” Ms de Been said.
“It’s hard to have a small business these days.
“We took it away as soon as they told us to.”
Ms de Been said a customer heard about their plight, and set up an online fundraiser to attempt to raise the money required.
“It bloody made me cry,” she said.
“I’m a 20-years domestic violence survivor, so I opened the cafe to support other people, we support Lazarus House, all those guys come down for a coffee and the community’s all behind that.
“It’s just me, my husband, my daughter and we have one worker who works with us.
“After paying everyone and paying all the other stuff, there’s not much left.”
The GoFundMe has already raised $2500 of its $3000 target, money which will go towards the installation of the bollards.
“I’ve got the quote done,” Ms de Been said.
“Now we have to get an engineer to come out and do plans, then we have to send all that into (the city) and then they have to approve it.”
Ms de Been said council have been clear in their communications throughout that if she follows their directions she will be able to regain her outside seating.
The City of Greater Geelong was contacted for comment, but has not responded.
It comes nine months after The Local cafe owner Ben McLachlan was forced to tear down the deck at his McKillop St establishment following a lengthy spat with council.
william.keech@news.com.au
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Originally published as Geelong cafe owner 'in tears' as customers fundraise for council-mandated bollards
