City cafés adapt with pick-up, delivery services as COVID-19 lockdown bites
Seeking to meet a demand from customers while keeping workers off the breadline during the pandemic lockdown, some city cafés have resumed operations by introducing curbside pickup and delivery services.
Within the last three weeks at least three businesses, Oasis Café, Coffee Bean Café and Eatery and the Bistro Café and Bar, have reopened to serve their customers.
These cafés were closed for approximately one month following the partial lockdown announced by the government from April 3rd to tackle the COVID19 pandemic.
Narvini Dewnath, coproprietor of the Coffee Bean Café on Church Street told this newspaper that they decided to reopen as the business has overhead expenses such as utilities which were still being incurred. She noted too that while the café was paying staff a percentage of their wages, it was recognised that it was insufficient.
“We decided that by reopening our staff will be able to earn more during this time and at the same time generate some income to cover overhead expenses and keep serving our customers,” she said.
According to the co-proprietor they have been receiving a fairly good response from loyal customers, but with school closed and most people home the traffic is lower than what they are accustomed to.
The eatery offers their entire menu to customers and persons can pick up orders or request delivery.
Dewnath explained that they operate between 8 am and 2pm from Monday to Saturday.
“We close off at 2 because we want to give our staff enough time to get home before the curfew starts. As you would know during this time it has been difficult to for persons to have access to reliable transportation service,” she noted.
Nisa Walker, co-proprietor of Oasis Café on Carmichael Street, said their decision to reopen was influenced by the high demand from customers.
Walker explained that they reopened two Saturdays ago and while business was a bit slow it has picked up. “We saw a high demand from our regular customers and we looked back at our decision and decided to reopen… we miss the daily interactions with our customers and we can’t wait for us to be able to have our customers dine in but as it is now we are taking it one day at a time,” Walker said.
She noted that the café’s beverages and breakfast items are in high demand by customers and they have resorted to offering a lunch special option. This, she said has received a great response as persons have been putting in preorders by a day.
“During this time we have been introducing food inspired by different cuisines. Like we have had Indonesian and Britishinspired dishes on the menu for this week. We have also been receiving some catering orders, so I must say it has been good so far,” Walker said.
The café on its Facebook page also announced the availability of their house wines and coffee beans for purchase.
Meanwhile the management of Bistro Café and Bar, on Middle Street, is working to take their operations online as they have launched a website and a mobile app for android users.
“As we are adapting to the `new normal’ we have introduced our menu online https://www.bistrocafebar.com/ and persons with android phones can download the app from the Play Store. We are currently working to have it in the Apple store. We want people to be able to have access to our menu at the tip of their fingers and this is one way we can do that,” Reshma (only name given) Manager of the entity told Stabroek News.
She related further that many customers were messaging and calling to enquire whether they were accepting takeout orders.
“Also we gave our staff a one-month stimulus pay because there wasn’t much that we could have done. But by reopening we will be able to pay staff and meet our customers’ demand,” the manager said, while noting that the restaurant has been following strict hygiene practices.
According to Reshma, one of the challenges they face is the length of time persons have to wait for delivery and they are now considering introducing their own delivery service.
“We have been outsourcing delivery but they are also in high demand as everyone is using them. That poses a challenge for us because we have to wait on these people to serve all their customers as they serve our customers. So with that challenge we might have to introduce our own delivery team,” Reshma explained.
She added that while Monday and Tuesday are their slowest days there has been a great response from customers between Wednesdays and Saturdays. Fridays and Saturdays, she said are the busiest as she noted that there is a high demand for the Bistro Duck Curry, which is available on Saturdays.
“We have been receiving an overwhelming support. We offer a new menu every week and all our sushi and cocktails with wine selection is available to customers. I must say that our duck curry has been a major hit and has been sold out in the past weeks. Persons have been placing orders way in advance for it”, the manager added.
“We are adapting to this new scene. We are so accustomed to having our customers come and dine with us and we have created relationships but now we have to go to them. We cannot wait for when we can allow dine-in once again,” she explained further. President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana Mitra Rajkumar said that they are working on establishing guidelines for operations as they approach the reopening of businesses in the hospitality sector.
He noted that they will be working with recommendations from regional and local health bodies to draft the guidelines in addition to working with the Guyana Tourism Authority.