The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A Nassau restaurant says its Christmas sales are down 70 percent compared to prior years due to a combination of COVID-19 health restrictions and the pandemic's economic fall-out.

Chris Robertson, owner/operator of the Cricket Club Restaurant and Pub, told Tribune Business the massive drop in “gross take” is due to the loss of night-time trade due to the 10pm curfew. As a result, he is just “trying to hang in there” until COVID-19 eases.

“We’re still surviving; we've been okay. We still have our regular customers in and, after 23 years, we should have some to keep us going," he added.

Jacques Carlino, owner/operator of the Blue Sail Bar & Grill, said little has changed. He added: “We are still closed on Sunday and only open for six days. I think we have to wait until the Sunday service come back, and then wait until 2021 for any major changes.

Mr Carlino said he was “doubtful” that the Prime Minister's Office, also known as the Competent Authority, will make any changes to present COVID-19 measures in the near-term. He added that his operation was in a “wait and see” pattern.

The Prime Minister's Office yesterday further adjusted restrictions on Bahamians and residents patronising local hotels if they are not a guest at that particular property. Anxious to preserve the so-called "vacation bubbles" at these resorts, Dr Hubert Minnis and his team clarified that locals can visit a hotel's "outdoor" facilities without first producing a negative COVID-19 test result.

However, those wanting to use a hotel's "indoor" facilities - such as casinos and restaurants - will have to produce either a negative PCR or antigen test result if they are not an existing guest.

Meanwhile George Mousis, the Athena Café's general manager, said he was just “thankful” to be open with locals always accounting for a substantial portion of his business. He added that he was not yet concerned about the continued uncertainty over the cruise ships' return to downtown Nassau because domestic clients have helped to fill the breach despite the COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr Mousis said: “I don't like to look back at 2019;, I just want to look forward to 2021”, refusing to compare numbers between this year and last year.

Stacey-Ann Taylor, general manager of Exagon, said: “Things are pretty slow. There's really not a lot of customers at all downtown. The only thing that generates anything is the workers, and they're more interested in McDonald's and Burger King at the moment.”

The hotel industry's reopening did little to boost sales, as their busiest hours were traditionally around 8pm - a time that now sees persons start heading home to beat the 10pm curfew. “We normally stayed open until about 2am, and during the week about until 11pm,” Ms Taylor said.

With the traditional Junkanoo Parades cancelled, she added that Exagon will “definitely” be closed on Christmas night and New Year’s Eve.