A Wigan café owner says the new Covid restrictions have ‘messed up’ everything for their hard-hit business - and says the lack of customers means she is struggling to make ends meet.
Behnaz Yonesigaros is the owner of the Station Café in Wallgate.
The mother of two, who opened the café back in 2019, says business has completely slowed since Boris Johnson announced new restrictions last week (December 8) in the wake of the Omicron variant, which included guidance to work from home.
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But with Behnaz’s café situated in between two train stations in the town, most of her customers are commuters and shoppers travelling in and out of Wigan.
And speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said the new restrictions have been a hammer blow.
“Honestly these restrictions have messed up everything here," she said.
“Things were okay for a short while, but when Boris announced the new rules last week people have been scared to come in.
“ Wigan town isn’t the best for shopping and people go out of town anyway but these new restrictions have had a negative influence on my shop.
“Some people who do come in aren’t even following the rules and we don’t know what to do."
Behnaz told the MEN that despite the situation she’s trying her best to keep spirits high among staff and customers.
The slowdown in business means that she has had to make some difficult decisions in regards to staffing in the past week which has ‘upset’ some of her staff.
She said: “These new restrictions have upset my staff too.
“I’m having to cut hours, and send people home. On a busy day it’s usually two to three people behind the till but in this situation its sometimes just me or another member of staff.
““The staff need hours, they need money, its Christmas time.
“I’m trying to keep my customers happy because this isn’t just affecting me and most cafe’s are closing down in this situation.
“I’m having to open seven days a week because I’ve got bills to pay, children to look after.
“Sometimes I’m ending the day with nothing left for me take home.”
