Key Points
- The impact of Melbourne's longest lockdown has hit the community hard
- Bhim Neupane decided to keep his restaurant open to support international students
- Making the best of the current pandemic situation
When Prime Minister Scott Morrison for all non–citizens and non – residents in March, Bhim Neupane’s phone was running hot. With restrictions on international flights, the phone calls were from people looking to cancel or have their bookings refunded.
Mr Neupane and his staff at Buddha Travel and Tours spent the next few weeks arranging refunds and assisting with repatriation flights to Nepal for .
“Due to the volume of calls, we had to roster more staff,” he told SBS Nepali.
But with national border closures nearing eight months now, the phone calls have slowed down significantly.
Meanwhile, his restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD was continuing its operations, albeit within various levels of lockdown restrictions implemented by the Victorian Government.
Bhim Neupane in Melbourne runs a restaurant and a travel agency Source: Bhim Neupane
But the announcement by Premier Daniel Andrews in August of his decision to implement to control the second wave of coronavirus infections, made him question whether it was worth keeping the restaurant open.
With curfews, severe restrictions on the movement of people and non-essential CBD workers requested to work from home, Mr Neupane’s Nirankar restaurant had no customers walking through the door.
With only three of his staff qualifying for the federal government’s Job Keeper payment, he made the decision to keep the restaurant open to support his other staff that were on student or other temporary visas.
“While the financial assistance from the government was valuable, it wasn’t of much help for staff that were ineligible for government support so I tried to keep my employees at work as much as I could,” he said.
Bhim Neupane at Melbourne's international airport assisting with repatriation of stranded visitors from Nepal Source: Bhim Neupane
Many CBD venues in a similar situation
Usha Tangbe, who runs a dumplings restaurant called Momo Station in the city centre faced similar difficulties.
“Due to the sudden implementation of lockdown, it was very scary, we didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
While allowed to provide takeaway service, they didn’t have any customers and so on the second day of new restrictions in March, the restaurant was forced to close its doors indefinitely.
But with utilities and other expenses continuing for the restaurant Ms Tangbe made the decision to reopen the business and support her staff, all of whom are international students. The restaurant even managed to organise a day of free food and drinks for international students in April.
With rental relief from her landlord and financial support from federal, state and local government, Momo Station remained open.
Usha Tangbe (second from right) with her staff at Melbourne's Momo Station restaurant Source: Supplied
“We were very lucky,” says Ms Tangbe.
“We weren’t making any money, but it was very difficult for my staff, so I wanted to give them some shifts.”
Without government support, the restaurant wouldn’t have been able to survive she adds.
“The situation was beyond our control. We had to accept the reality and keep working.”
Easing of restrictions brings back customers
Nirankar Restaurant in Melbourne Source: Supplied
On 8th November, 112 days of strict lockdown came to an end and cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants were now able to serve
Kailashpati Sharma, the owner of a nearby Indian restaurant called Curry Vault says since the implementation of reduced restrictions, customers have started to return.
Mr Sharma had to shut down his restaurant during the second round of lockdown and is now happy to operate with 50 per cent capacity.
“It was a very stressful situation during the lockdown but I tried to make use of my time with kids, cooking with them and meditating.”
Usha Tangbe is also happy to see her customers back.
Curry Vault restaurant in Melbourne Source: Supplied
“We’re getting a lot of support from customers so nothing much to complain about, in the current situation,” she adds.
With uncertainty around international travel continuing, Bhim Neupane sees the glass as half full.
He is relieved that his restaurant has picked up business.
“With the end of lockdown, people are now like birds that are flying out of their cages,” he said.
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