AHMEDABAD: Footfalls at restaurants, multiplexes, and malls have nosedived amid the recent spurt in cases of Covid-19. With a fresh set of guidelines capping the numbers on public gatherings and the extension of night curfew timings, restaurants have seen an 80% dip in footfalls. Takeaway orders have also declined. Multiplexes are compelled to cancel shows with new releases getting postponed in the wake of the rising Covid cases.
Dilip Thakkar, an Ahmedabad-based restaurateur, said: “In December, the curfew was imposed after midnight and because of that business was good as we received a lot of footfalls in the evening.” He added: “As compared to December, footfalls have now dipped to barely 10% in the first ten days of January as people have stopped venturing out due to curfew restrictions.” He went on to say: “With the curfew starting at 10pm, we need to shut shop by 9.30pm latest, which means we cannot entertain guests after 8.45pm. This is hurting the business.”
Similar is the case with an Ashram Road restaurant where dine-in customers have declined by a sizable 50%.
Even takeaway orders have been hit. “The sentiment has nosedived across the city with Covid cases showing a massive spike,” said Baiju Dhanani, another Ahmedabad-based restaurateur. “Therefore, customer footfalls as well as takeaway orders have gone down.”
Hoteliers and restaurateurs are pinning their hopes on Uttarayan festivities when at least takeaway order volumes are expected to pick up.
Multiplexes have seen an estimated 60-70% decline in customer footfalls and overall business.
“Most new film releases which were scheduled in January have now been postponed by a month. We’ve been running the same movies for the past four weeks and naturally viewer interest will decline,” said Niraj Ahuja, general manager of a multiplex on SG Road. Ahuja added: “Moreover, with Covid cases rapidly surging, people have been apprehensive about venturing out for the past ten days which has certainly impacted business.”
The owner of another multiplex in Ahmedabad said on the condition of anonymity: “The multiplex business throughout January and February is expected to reel from losses.” He added: “That’s not just because of restrictions and guidelines but also because of deferred releases. The third wave will slow down the recovery of the multiplex business.”
