SANDRA James was busy at her Raphael Terrace, Diego Martin home prepping food stuff for the reopening of her business, Sandra’s Gourmet Delight on Monday.
Her small food business is located at the Dock Workers Canteen, Dock Road, Port of Spain.
While slicing onions, James said she is very fearful of reopening her business. However, she has developed a strategy, which is, preparing a smaller amount than she usually does.
“Because we don’t know what to expect because everybody has been bawling. We don’t know how the market will be. We got hit hard because there are a lot of people who do the vending on the side and some people bringing food from home.
“So we don’t know what we are going to meet and so we are doing a little bit.” She is also taking a wait-and-see approach until she decides what comes next for her small business.
“We don’t want much wastage because we went through that already. We are doing small amounts and if the crowd looking good or somebody calls with a spontaneous order, I have the staff to chop up (food items). This is why we prepare now, so we can throw and make pot fast.”
The Prime Minister announced on July 10 that the food sector would reopen on July 19 but only offering curbside pickup and take-out, deliveries and drive-through only.
Many businesses seemed to have wrapped up their preparations for Monday’s reopening and many were closed when Newsday drove through Port of Spain, Ariapita Avenue and Mucurapo Road, Port of Spain.
2ND LOCKDOWN HIT HARDER
Popular roti shop Hott Shoppe was in the process of cleaning and preparing when Newsday visited on Sunday. Its owner Douglas Agostini said he and his staff have been preparing all week.
[caption id="attachment_901914" align="alignnone" width="1024"] UNCERTAIN: Douglas Agostini, owner of Hot Shoppe Roti shop in St James, said he is excited but apprehensive as to what the reopening of businesses on Monday will bring. PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI -[/caption]
Agostini said he expects to have a good sale tomorrow because “people have not eaten out for such a long time.” However, he said it was hard to predict exactly how it is going to be.
Agostini said he expects to get some sales for the restart but then he expects it to slow down and be “quiet under what it used to be.”
His is also an approach of wait-and-see. Going forward will be determined by what happens in the coming days, he said.
“You have to meet all of your expenses and operating costs otherwise you can’t stay in business.”
Agostini said he too believes the Government should have planned more to safeguard the survival of businesses.
“The first round last year, we did get some support from the Government. There was a loan that was extended with a two-year moratorium and low interest rates.
“This second lockdown was far more extensive and far more damaging and there was no further assistance from the Government which has put a lot of pressure on business.”
He also thinks there was some level of unfairness in this second lockdown.
“I operate a roti shop a
