Upset eatery owners to PM: Thanks a bunch
Group say trading curbs and ongoing CRL work hurting badly and Govt not helping
Business owners at Elliott Stables have sent bouquets of flowers with personal messages to the Prime Minister and Auckland’s mayor as a protest against trading restrictions and construction upheavals.
The businesses say the Covid-19 clamps and City Rail Link work have led to losses, and there seemed to be little help from central government or the Auckland Council.
Several owners of the 12 cafes and restaurants in the mid-city dining village have not been able to pay their rents and are in negotiations with their landlord.
The bouquets had cards signed: Best wishes from The Dying Businesses of Elliott Stables.
Under alert level 2, the number of people allowed inside Elliott Stables was 100, and this number has to be shared between 12 of the businesses in the dining hall.
George Panicker George, who owns Ela Cuisine and Reslau, said this was “as good as having no customers”. He didn’t see his businesses — or the jobs of six workers — surviving beyond this month without help.
George said profit was nonexistent and his businesses now make “a few hundred” a day, which wasn’t enough to pay bills, wages and most definitely not the rent.
He said the landlord, The Icon Group, has issued him a notice under the Property Law Act and he may be forced to shut by June 17.
The eateries want a break from their rents for three months and subsidies from the council.
Lois Cabrera, who owns Besos Latinos, says he has been really stressed and did not think there would be much improvement in sales even at alert level 1 because many will still work from home.
“We are reliant on office workers, but many work from home. There are no international students because of the border closures, and the CRL ... works means even access to Elliott St is being blocked,” said Cabrera.
Sunny Kaushal, a spokesman for the group, said the flowers aimed to catch the Prime Minister’s attention and “touch her heart”.
“Jacinda has been appearing on TV every day telling us to be kind. Well, we hope that she can be kind and have some compassion for small businesses too,” Kaushal said.
He said the landlord did not appear keen to be offering rent discounts, and was calling on the Government to intervene or provide rent relief support for the businesses.
Icon Group’s general manager, Denise Kyne, said it had offered tenants “substantial rental relief” since the beginning of the lockdown.
“Despite the absence of the ‘no access clause’ in the Elliott Stables tenants’ lease agreements, The Icon Group have provided substantial rental relief since the beginning of lockdown, up to the value of circa $300,000,” Kyne said.
“We continue to engage [with those expecting] some form of government assistance beyond the relief the landlord has already offered.”
Kyne said none of the tenants are being forced to shut their doors.
“They are back up and running but, of course, are reliant on people to dine out so that their businesses can again thrive,” she said.
Jacinda has been appearing on TV every day telling us to be kind. Well, we hope that she can . . . have some compassion for small businesses.
Sunny Kaushal, group spokesman