Uncertain times lie ahead for Waurn Ponds eateries

CHAIRS were stripped from the food court shortly before midday as cafes, coffee shops and restaurants at Waurn Ponds shopping centre entered the uncertainty of the state-enforced coronavirus lockdown.

This high noon for traders was met with a mix of frustration, resignation and uncertainty. Some were set to battle on with home deliveries and takeaway options, but for others the cancellation of indoor dining meant shutting up shop.

In both cases, scores of casual staff instantly joined the growing list of coronavirus job casualties.

The Gloria Jean’s franchise at the shopping centre is among those which have closed their doors until further notice.

Operations manager Tiffany Williams said the store’s temporary closure would affect 14 workers, 13 of whom were casual.

“They will all be out of work as of 12 o’clock,” Ms Williams said.

She said the coronavirus impacted the outlet so badly that expenses were outweighing revenue.

The doors of the nearby Groove Train restaurant were also locked as staff packed up the perishables inside, while Readings Cinema is also closed with a letter pinned to the door from management urging everyone to stay safe and look out for each other.

Traders adjoining the food court were hoping traffic generated by the shopping centre’s major tenants in Kmart and Coles will keep their businesses going.

Subway franchisee Samantha Roach was encouraged by the number of customers that had been asking whether she would stay open.

“At least we still have people coming in the shopping centre, so I think we’ll be OK, but not to the volume that we’ve had,” Ms Roach said.

She said the staff to sales ratio had been closely monitored in the past few weeks with continual adjustments to the roster, and expects that will be an ongoing process as costs are managed closely.

“Every retailer would be doing the same,” she said.

In addition to takeaways, customers will still be able to order through delivery services Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

But takeaway food is not the answer across the food court at Alfies cafe, where owner Sam Yacoub was waiting for centre management to advise whether the cafe, which usually employs six people, will be allowed to close as staying open was part of the lease.

“It’s all eat-in,” Mr Yacoub said. “Takeaways are not going to help at me at all, really. And selling coffees won’t pay the wages, let alone the power supply.”