'On our knees': Melbourne cafe owner's heartbreaking plea after Covid
For many, things are slowly returning to normal, but for some small Australian businesses and hospitality venues the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are still lingering.
Zerin Jai English is a single mum to two boys and is very passionate about her cafe HealThy Self in Yarraville, Melbourne.
Ms English told Yahoo News Australia the business has evolved alongside her for six years and it channels her passion for breaking the stigma around vegan food.
"It's sort of my little way that I feel like I'm changing the world through, you know, for the better," she said.
However, with the city subject to multiple lockdowns and a surge of Omicron cases over Christmas, Ms English is struggling to get back on her feet.
"My cafe is on its knees and I honestly don’t know if it will be able to get back up," she wrote in a passionate Facebook post on Thursday.
She said the past three months have been extremely difficult for her cafe, with price increases, supply issues, delivery delays and having to cut back on staff, which Ms English considers to be like family.
Some days, there's so few customers it's not even viable to stay open until 2pm. "Very soon" the situation will be "unsustainable", she said.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Ms English said remained open for the first four Covid lockdowns, doing takeaway only. The government support was "fantastic", she added.
However, for the final two lockdowns, Ms English closed her business, prioritising her mental health.
She said the impassioned Facebook post was her last ditch effort to communicate to the community how dire it was for her and other businesses.
"It's not just a Yarraville problem, it's felt all over the state," she told Yahoo News Australia.
On Facebook, Ms English said she owed a lot to the Yarraville community, however there is a chance the cafe might have to close soon — the reality of which is breaking her "soul".
She said she has two young boys who she supports mentally, emotionally and of course, financially, and they will always be her priority.
Changing habits reason behind suffering
Ms English acknowledged she is doing no worse than any other business, but said her community is not what it used to be before Covid it.
While lockdowns are a thing of the past, Covid has changed the way we all act and the habits we formed in hopes of evading the virus might be the reason behind the cafe's potential demise.
Ms English believes people have become accustomed to staying in their homes and ordering in instead of going out and enjoying a meal.
"They've just gotten accustomed staying home and, and that probably associated with the money that they're saving, by doing so as well and I can't blame them for that," she said.
Ms English said she fears Yarraville will see an increase in big chain companies instead of independent businesses.
"Because that's essentially what's gonna happen if if small businesses and operators aren't there, that's essentially what's going to come in and take our place," she said.
'Just come through the door'
Fortunately, on Friday morning, people were lining up to come into HealThy Self and Ms English was overwhelmed by support, flowers and wine from the community.
"Yesterday I was crying tears of sadness, — today, tears of absolute happiness and joy. I'm so floored and overwhelmed with emotion, I can't even put it into words," she said.
Now is still the time to support small businesses, she implored.
Ms English said her friends have set up a GoFundMe to help keep the cafe afloat, but she would rather earn her money by doing what she loves.
"Just come through the door," she said when asked how people can best support her and HealThy Self.
"Just come in to the cafe, get a takeaway, get a smoothie, sit down and have a coffee, or get some food, it's as simple as that."
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