Bay restaurateurs weigh in on success of home deliveries
Grillers American Diner and Roadhouse in Cape Road was nearly at full capacity at the weekend
‘People are spending their money wisely so there aren’t huge amounts being ordered
Sunny Tembani
SOMETHING GOOD ROADHOUSE
GROUP MANAGER
While some eateries around Nelson Mandela Bay opened for home deliveries after the national lockdown was shifted to level four last week, others are still figuring out if it is worth it.
With high running costs, staff wages and fluctuating availability of stock to feed the need, some restaurateurs are still in the dark as to whether it is worth offering a home delivery service.
The group manager for Something Good Roadhouse, Sunny Tembani, said although business started off with “a bang” on the first day of the level four lockdown on Friday the past few days had been a bit slower.
“We need to be agile and adapt to the new way of business,” Tembani said.
The Summerstrand establishment, which previously offered deliveries via the Uber Eats app and Mr Delivery, has since opted to offer its own delivery service.
“We are still looking at how this will play out and the sustainability of offering our own delivery service.
“People are spending their money wisely so there aren’t huge amounts being ordered,” Tembani said.
A co-director of Cassie’s at Kamma Crossing, Viwe Mzamo, said the independently owned franchise had introduced home deliveries since the beginning of level four, with the first two days being very busy.
“On Friday and Saturday, we had the same amount of deliveries and Monday was busier than it would generally be prior to the lockdown.
“It will be interesting to see how sales are going to be going forward,” Mzamo said.
Previously only offering deliveries through the Mr Delivery platform, Mzamo said owners of the store were now delivering orders personally.
“In the long run, we aim to employ drivers to continue the service even after lockdown ends,” Mzamo said.
The owner of San Fernando’s Grillhouse and Woodfired Pizzeria in Sunridge Village, Fernando Escola, said since starting the home deliveries, business had been average.
“It is fairly busy [and is] bringing in some cash, especially after five weeks of not operating at all,” Escola said.
Escola said although orders were coming in and deliveries were going out there was still room for improvement.
“We can never have too much business,” Escola said.
Lorna Davey, owner of Simply Asia which started operating from one of their three outlets across the Bay over the weekend, said business started well at first but had quietened down since Monday.
“We are still trying to get more business,” Davey said.
Offering home deliveries from their Moffett on Main outlet, Davey said she hoped business would continue to pick up during the month.
Grillers American Diner and Roadhouse in Cape Road was nearly at full capacity at the weekend, with almost 120 homes serviced daily within a 5km radius of the establishment, owner Andre Castelein said.
“We have had a very good response.
“Our biggest challenge is that we can’t service everyone,” he said.
He said the number of calls which came through for deliveries had not gone down since Friday.
“We got calls almost every three minutes and the phone doesn’t stop between 11am and 6pm.”