Coffey and Smith bid farewell to hospitality
MP Ta¯mati Coffey and his husband Tim Smith have sold their two Eat Streat businesses in Rotorua.
Coffey said they were proud to have served locals and visitors for more than seven years but time had come to focus on other things on their “bucket list”.
“Our son Tu¯ta¯nekai will start ko¯hanga reo soon, Tim will be returning to a teaching career in music which has always been his passion, and I will continue to represent Rotorua as an MP in Parliament and as deputy chair on the Rotorua Trust. Rotorua is our home and that won’t change.”
The pair opened Ponsonby Rd in March 2015 initially as an upmarket cocktail bar that had live music. It turned into a popular night spot and was the “go-to” bar for the younger generation.
It closed and rebranded last year as Rotorua International with the vision of going back to a quieter-style cocktail and wine bar.
Coffey, Labour’s Waiariki MP until the last election, and Smith opened Our House, a Kiwi-styled restaurant and bar, in 2018.
The two businesses have been closed for two weeks as new owners Deepak Kundal, Mohinder Sawroop and Baljit Singh look to rebrand and reopen them.
The trio, who own other Eat Streat businesses CBK, The Beer Garden and Leonardo’s as well as Third Place Cafe, intend to reopen Our House in mid-july as a Mexican restaurant and they have plans for the Rotorua International to be either a small restaurant or a wine bar with soft music, suited for ages 30-plus.
Kundal said they already had a thriving night spot with The Beer Garden and wouldn’t reopen Rotorua International as a nightclub.
Meanwhile, as Coffey said goodbye to their hospitality lifestyle, he said they wouldn’t be where they were without the support of their regulars.
“We want to thank our many loyal customers who have helped us navigate the Covid pandemic which hasn’t been easy, but made easier with their unwavering support.”
Coffey and Smith have been strong advocates for paying the living wage to their staff.
Coffey said they were now more confident than ever hospitality workers must be paid and treated well or Rotorua would struggle to draw in good workers, who in turn attracted the many tourists that travelled for “great foodie experiences”.
“Respected career hospo workers are worth their weight in gold and we need to grow more of them in Rotorua. Looking beyond this year’s local elections, Coffey said, “An incoming council needs to consider what Eat Streat version two looks like. For years we’ve talked about extending Eat Streat, or creating bespoke food festivals, but food tourism hasn’t really eventuated. I’m keen to work with a new council to realise those ambitions.”