TOGETHER IN ISOLATION
CITY URGED TO BUY LOCAL TO SAVE BUSINESSES
+ FESTIVAL OF ARTS POSTPONED
+ SENATOR MCDONALD’S BARE PANTRY IN QUARANTINE
+ DR MICHAEL CLEMENTS’ NEW COLUMN
TOWNSVILLE, don’t forget about small businesses in this time of crisis. The coronavirus pandemic is expected to severely damage the bottom line of many places but they are trying to adapt to a changing landscape. We are urging people to continue to support local businesses in a safe way.
THE city’s restaurant moguls will today present a united front as they urge the community to support their businesses and the hundreds of jobs they support amid the coronavirus crisis.
Townsville industry identities including Matt Merrin, Jamie Fitzpatrick and Peter Brine from the city’s hatted restaurants Jam, Bridgewater, A Touch of Salt and Shorehouse will meet today as they experience a crippling drop in foot traffic as more people self-isolate and practise “social distancing”.
Mr Fitzpatrick has appealed to people to continue to support the industry, including attending restaurants while regulations allow amid the unfolding coronavirus pandemic.
The restaurateur operates venues including Shaw & Co and The Courtyard in City Lane and Shorehouse on the Strand which are adapting by launching home deliveries and takeaway menus.
But he warned this alone would not save businesses and jobs.
“It’s not the silver bullet because we are moving to takeaway. It doesn’t mean businesses are going to be sustainable,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
“At this stage we are open. As long as we observe safe practices and we adhere to the guidelines, we can have up to 100 people (attend restaurants).”
Mr Fitzpatrick also called for the support of regulators.
“We need our regulatory bodies to work with us to get businesses back on foot as we adapt quickly,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
“Our immediate goal is to do what we can to maintain a healthy environment for staff, families and customers, while at the same time, maintain the jobs of our 90 plus staff,” he said.
The news follows A Touch of Salt announcing it would launch cookat-home food boxes with recipe cards, takeaway and food delivery.
Yesterday afternoon, food delivery giant Uber Eats announced it would give $5 million in funding to smaller restaurants in a bid to save the country’s struggling hospitality sector.
Restaurants joining Uber Eats would also see their sign-on fees waived, and all restaurants would be able to opt-in for being paid daily.
It follows an announcement earlier this week that Uber would be encouraging drivers to leave food deliveries at the doorstep of their customers.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill called on the region to support each other through this crisis.
“Everyone is hurting at the moment … a number of businesses acting proactively in this manner is very good, and I would hope that the local community, if they are looking to get food and things like that, they support these local businesses,” Ms Hill said.
“I’m still going to go out and do my shopping; if I want to buy a dress I’m going to go to the dress shop until they tell me that we have to stop. We can still continue to lead reasonably normal lives.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday urged Australians to stop panic buying and hoarding, saying it was “ridiculous” and “un-australian”.
However, as the coronavirus crisis deepens and more people work from home or self-isolate, getting food and other essentials remains a stressful part of life for many of us.
Here’s a rundown of just some of the local businesses who are staying open and how you can support them:
GROCERIES
Jamie’s Joint at South Townsville has plenty of pantry staples in stock and they’re expecting another delivery of the rolled gold during this crisis – toilet paper – by the end of the week.
“We get fruit and veg three times a week and we have lots of deli meat to sell,” store owner Jamie De Muth said.
“We get bread delivered from Jean-pierre every day, we have rice, pasta and flour and we are getting milk delivered every day, too.”
Ms De Muth said the store was taking phone orders for the convenience of her customers.
Harold Street Minimart is open 13 hours a day, seven days a week and has plenty of staples left on its shelves.
Store manager Vinay Patel said pasta was in high demand at the convenience store.
“We still have all everything you need; rice, pasta, ham off the bone, fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs, baby wipes and nappies,” she said.
FRESH FRUIT & VEG
Otto’s Fresh Food Market marketing manager Renae Summers assures Townsville the aisles are well stocked.
“We have a strong focus on fruit and vegetables and it is how Otto’s started and we are going to continue to trade like business as usual because we are here to support our customers,” she said. “There is a lot of uncertainty and we basically want to continue to trade as usual to create calm.”
The store has plenty of stock including canned food, pasta, bread, meat and fresh food.
Ms Summers said the store was working on strategies to keep Townsville well stocked.
“We are talking about a possible drive-through service and an online grab and go system,” she said.
Lambert’s Fresh Produce in Aitkenvale has plenty of fruit and vegetables, according to co-owner Michael Burge.
“People are panic buying a bit of meat, to a less of degree for fruit and veg. Whether it’s people from out of town … I’m not sure what it is,” he said.
“We are pretty well covered for everything. We don’t envisage too many out of stocks, we’re going to have supplies, there’s no question about it.
Mr Burge said some fruit and vegetable prices may rise because of increased demand in southern cities affecting supplies.
PASTA
Fewer people have been stepping through the doors of Betty Blue and The Lemon Tart, but there is a silver lining for those seeking pasta.
Owner Chris Christensen said there had been about a 50 per cent downturn in customers as a result of coronavirus. He said the cafe stocked a range of pastas, including gluten free varieties, and was expecting another delivery soon.
“It’s been a massive downturn in the past three days, which I don’t expect will change, but hope it does,” Mr Christensen said.
With an influx of Townsville residents taking a road trip north to visit the sunflowers west of Ingham, the delis in the Hinchinbrook town also have a healthy pasta supply.
Lou’s Emporium owner Leanne Morris said her store had yet to experience panic buying.
“We haven’t been hit too much yet. We still have tinned tomatoes and some pasta, rice and flour and we have more stock arriving soon so we don’t have empty shelves just yet,” she said.
RESTAURANTS & CLUBS
The Balcony Restaurant in Townsville City have added delivery options and a takeaway menu, a “high tea to your house” option and function platters home delivered.
“Thank you for your continued support, we appreciate it very much,” they said in a statement. “We wish all of you out there the very best of luck. We are going to give it everything we’ve got to try to get through this.”
Brothers Leagues Club’s “Circa on the Run” are now offering a takeaway menu, as is Townsville Yacht Club, The Courtyard, Shaw & Co, Shorehouse, Bridgewater Restaurant, Jam and A Touch of Salt.
Tom’s Tavern announced they would be “reducing capacity to allow for social distancing” at the Aitkenvale pub, limiting the number of guests to a maximum of 100 people per area.
The Pier Restaurant and Bar
said they would review their restaurant layout and the configuration of tables to abide by social distancing guidelines.
And The Ville Resort-casino
yesterday said they would limit the number of patrons for The Palm House, Quarterdeck, Miss Songs and the casino, Spin Cafe and sports bar.
CAFES & BAKERIES
Three Loaves Bakehouse at Rising Sun are offering phone orders, orders brought out to cars, and are designing packages for people wanting to grab necessities without braving the big shops (and crowds) including breads, pastries, milk, eggs etc.
Absolute Cravings in North Ward will offer dine-in as well as takeaway meals and deliver food on Wednesdays and Fridays to the elderly, disabled and anyone self-isolating.