ABC News (Australia) published this video item, entitled “‘Financial famine’ not over for many restaurants a year after first COVID-19 shutdown | ABC News” – below is their description.
Brisbane restaurateur and Montrachet co-owner Shannon Kellam endured 1,000 booking cancellations in a day ahead of last year’s coronavirus lockdown, but says the past few weeks have almost broken them.
The constant anxiety and stress of trying to keep the business afloat for the past 14 months has not only cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, but his mental health.
Customers still don’t have confidence to book big parties due to recent short and sharp lockdowns.
And with social distancing rules, Mr Kellam’s flagship restaurant can only seat 30 people, half its usual capacity.
Montrachet was a thriving restaurant on Brisbane’s King Street strip but now stands idle most lunch times and only opens five nights a week.
“Not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is what is making it very hard,” Mr Kellam said.
“The shutdown we had this April really brought us to our knees — with three pastry shops, a massive central kitchen, a cooking school and restaurants, we had bought a lot of produce ahead of Easter.
ABC News (Australia) YouTube Channel
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