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Canberra is usually a ghost town during the summer but some optimistic cafes say they will be open for business to serve Canberrans who opt for a “stay-cation”. They hope that staying open during the festive season will help them to recover business they lost because of the fires, smoke haze and COVID-19. They are preparing for life after the end of JobKeeper. The Knox Made in Watson will be open for the first time during the holiday season with reduced hours, opening from 7.30am to 2.30pm five days a week, only closed for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The venue usually opens seven days a week. Owner Dan Conroy is confident the demand will be there but said the decision is a gamble. “[If not enough people visit], I guess that’s one of those times where the risk doesn’t pay off,” he said. “Our business is a bit of a gambling industry, we’ve put all that money up front to hope that the crowd turns up to buy our product. “It’s not as if we can go back in time and recoup our costs. “But that’s where we’ve been a little bit more strategic with reducing our opening hours so that the liability or potential risk has been reduced a little.” If this summer is not successful, Mr Conroy says the business would not open during the summer again. Mr Conroy says the Knox cafe is no longer receiving JobKeeper – so he isn’t concerned about preparing for business without the payment supplement. However, many full-time workers used their annual leave during lockdown, and have no more leave available for the Christmas – New Year period. “It was a group decision, not just my own, to say ‘look, who’s willing to work, who wants to work and who’s going to be around’,” Mr Conroy said. “Quite a few of the guys put their hand up and said ‘I’m not going away, I’m around and I don’t have leave so I’d be happy to help out’.” Other businesses are also staying open. Omar Muscat owns Double Shot in Deakin, Locale Pizzeria and Urban Pantry in Manuka. Locale Pizzeria will only close for a week during the summer. The cafes will be open will be open throughout, only closing Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. He said it was important to keep on trading throughout the summer to maintain momentum and ensure the business was fighting fit. “It’s very important that all businesses now, whether big or small, start planning so they can survive on their own, instead of with JobKeeper help – so we can get out of this and keep employing and keep moving forward,” he said. “In Canberra, we tend to use the cafes as a tool to be able to meet friends and family. “I think it’s part of everyone’s daily routine and we don’t want to break that habit.” Mr Muscat said that even though more people are likely to stay in Canberra it was difficult to predict demand. “It’s very hard to roster businesses, because you’re dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t,” he said. “It comes in waves during the summer period. It’s like everyone has the same alarm clock. “Everyone is coming really early. Then there’s a break and then they’re coming at 9.30am.” Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Graham Catt said the recent easing of restrictions meant businesses had a chance to generate better revenues over the holiday period. “We’ve all appreciated the way our local businesses have looked after their customers and communities this year, so please take the opportunity to support those who will look after us again over the holidays,” he said. “It has been a tough year, so let’s spread some festive cheer.”
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Canberra is usually a ghost town during the summer but some optimistic cafes say they will be open for business to serve Canberrans who opt for a “stay-cation”.
They hope that staying open during the festive season will help them to recover business they lost because of the fires, smoke haze and COVID-19.
They are preparing for life after the end of JobKeeper.
The Knox Made in Watson will be open for the first time during the holiday season with reduced hours, opening from 7.30am to 2.30pm five days a week, only closed for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The venue usually opens seven days a week.
Owner Dan Conroy is confident the demand will be there but said the decision is a gamble.
“[If not enough people visit], I guess that’s one of those times where the risk doesn’t pay off,” he said.
“Our business is a bit of a gambling industry, we’ve put all that money up front to hope that the crowd turns up to buy our product.
“It’s not as if we can go back in time and recoup our costs.
“But that’s where we’ve been a little bit more strategic with reducing our opening hours so that the liability or potential risk has been reduced a little.”
If this summer is not successful, Mr Conroy says the business would not open during the summer again.
Mr Conroy says the Knox cafe is no longer receiving JobKeeper – so he isn’t concerned about preparing for business without the payment supplement.
However, many full-time workers used their annual leave during lockdown, and have no more leave available for the Christmas – New Year period.
“It was a group decision, not just my own, to say ‘look, who’s willing to work, who wants to work and who’s going to be around’,” Mr Conroy said.
“Quite a few of the guys put their hand up and said ‘I’m not going away, I’m around and I don’t have leave so I’d be happy to help out’.”
Other businesses are also staying open.
Omar Muscat owns Double Shot in Deakin, Locale Pizzeria and Urban Pantry in Manuka.
Locale Pizzeria will only close for a week during the summer. The cafes will be open will be open throughout, only closing Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
He said it was important to keep on trading throughout the summer to maintain momentum and ensure the business was fighting fit.
“It’s very important that all businesses now, whether big or small, start planning so they can survive on their own, instead of with JobKeeper help – so we can get out of this and keep employing and keep moving forward,” he said.
“In Canberra, we tend to use the cafes as a tool to be able to meet friends and family.
“I think it’s part of everyone’s daily routine and we don’t want to break that habit.”
Mr Muscat said that even though more people are likely to stay in Canberra it was difficult to predict demand.
“It’s very hard to roster businesses, because you’re dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t,” he said.
“It comes in waves during the summer period. It’s like everyone has the same alarm clock.
“Everyone is coming really early. Then there’s a break and then they’re coming at 9.30am.”
Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Graham Catt said the recent easing of restrictions meant businesses had a chance to generate better revenues over the holiday period.
“We’ve all appreciated the way our local businesses have looked after their customers and communities this year, so please take the opportunity to support those who will look after us again over the holidays,” he said.
“It has been a tough year, so let’s spread some festive cheer.”
