Auckland’s second blockade ‘nail in coffin’ for some

Auckland businesses that struggled to attract customers while the nearby City Rail Link was being built now expect customers to return when the city switches to alert level 2 on Monday.

They say the second city closure has been the “nail in the coffin” for some.

Sunny Kaushal runs the centennial Shakespeare Hotel and Brewery in the center of town, which she said is losing $ 10,000 a week.

He is the spokesperson for a group of business owners along Albert Street and in the Elloitt Stables food court.

“Companies are now affected by a double blow. Initially, the CRL has seriously affected it [City Rail Link] It’s been working for the last three years and now the Covid thing happened, “Kaushal said.

“The twice blockade has really had a huge impact on these businesses.”

He said a retailer, which owns a convenience store, has closed due to difficulties compounded with Auckland’s Tier 3 restrictions.

“The prolonged lockdown has proven to be a final nail in the coffin.”

Kaushal feared that the city would be like a ghost town if people continued to work from home.

“The challenge for the mayor of Auckland is to get those people back to the CBD so we can have a normal economy. If we can’t get those people back to work, I’m afraid the CBD will look like a ghost town like this.”

More to the center, Roger Marbeck, the owner of the Marbecks record store on Queen Street, said online sales have plummeted for the past two weeks after holding up well during the nationwide shutdown earlier this year.

“The fund has completely fallen out of the market, I don’t know anyone who is doing well this time,” he said.

“Even online is down, down a lot. It’s a disturbing trend, we hope that on Monday people regain some confidence.”

Marbeck said it was a similar story with other independent retailers outside of Auckland.

“I’m in contact with the other music retailers as well and they are all experiencing the same thing. Another week of this and I don’t think it’s a pretty picture for some people.”

I was hoping the customers would come back next week.

“It seems to be the uncertainty and lack of confidence as to where we are going because nobody really knows the answer at this point. By the middle of next week it could be a better image, hopefully so.”