Landlord tries his hand at pizza delivery to support tenants
When these local restaurant owners were hit with uncertainty, their landlord was the last person they expected to deliver their pizzas.
Tasmania
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WHEN local restaurant owners Luke Richmond and Marisa Cairns were hit with coronavirus uncertainty, their landlord was the last person they expected to deliver their pizzas.
Mr Richmond said his future with his fiancee and La Mansa co-owner has been tested by the pandemic, with their May wedding postponed and business viability increasingly uncertain.
“It was a massive shock, and we did have a brief closure for four weeks,” he said.
He said only five of their 19 staff were eligible for job keeper, with expensive Salamanca overheads and a demand slump adding to their woes.
Ms Cairns said she was thrilled when landlord Tony Kent negotiated with the couple, slashing rent by 50 per cent and helping them cook and deliver pizzas.
“He’s been really sweet,” she said.
“You probably don’t get too many pizza delivery guys in a convertible Mercedes.”
She said all hands were on deck, with her brother also helping at La Mansa in a “beautiful” show of support.
Mr Kent said everyone had to rally together to share the struggle between each other.
“I consider it a partnership between the landlord and tenant really,” he said.
“Most landlords who have good relationships with their tenants should sit down and work out what they can do together.”
The former La Porchetta owner said he was “happy” to get out of the house and cook pizza again.
“I’d rather be out helping my tenants than sitting back on my couch,” he said.
“It’s the natural thing to do.”
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