COUNTING the cost, but optimistically looking forward.
That’s the overriding message from some Riverland hospitality and food service businesses after their roller-coaster SA lockdown ride over the past week.
As the region nears its critical Christmas holiday tourism season, when visitor dollars boost local coffers, operators hope coronavirus restrictions will soon be relaxed and, in particular, that last week’s draconian, but ultimately short-lived lockdown is never repeated.
Anecdotal reports from across the region following the State Government’s lockdown – and ongoing restrictions, due to expire on December 1 – suggest pubs and clubs, together with takeaway and other service stores, suffered big losses via the ‘pizza-gate’ affair, however, Riverland bottle shops had record or near-record sales last Wednesday, as locals rushed to stock up ahead of the midnight deadline.
Loxton Pizza Bar received a $15,000 stock order last Wednesday, the same day of Premier Steven Marshall’s lockdown announcement and just hours before lockdown began.
“Most of the fresh fruit, vegetables and stuff we had prepared for the following days had to be thrown out,” said Loxton Pizza Bar owner Paul Unferdorben.
Over the river, Renmark Hotel suffered “a fair loss of trade”, while manager Darren Baker acknowledged that casual staff were most severely impacted. However, echoing the view of others in the industry, Mr Baker was grateful the harsh lockdown was lifted early.
“It definitely hit hard for a lot of our employees and we’re thankful it was only three days instead of six,” he said.
Meanwhile Loxton Club manager Andre Angeleski said he hoped current restrictions would have minimal impact on his facility’s Christmas operations.