12 Kolkata: A day after the civic authorities shut down several rooftop restaurants across the city, restaurant associations have started exploring ways to save jobs. The total revenue loss could be 10%-15%, according to industry sources. More than half of the revenue generated by the rooftop restaurants comes from their open-air sections. Many don't have indoor seating arrangements at all, and have been forced to shut down completely.
Even as they contemplate a legal recourse, the National Restaurants' Association of India (NRAI) Kolkata chapter fears there could be job losses, and many may lose patrons if the shutdown continues for a considerable period. The Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) is keeping fingers crossed until its meeting on Monday.
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Kolkata now has around a thousand eateries with open spaces on rooftops or upper floors, according to NRAI national president Sagar Daryani. "Rooftop joints increased in number post-Covid, when people started looking for more open spaces. Besides offering a view, this was also the latest eating-out trend that had already caught on in other cities. The rooftop arrangements helped pull in new customers, especially youngsters who loved the open ambience. Then, there are banquets and halls with adjoining open spaces that are also popular. For most of these places, more than half of the revenue comes from the open sections, particularly in winter. The decision to shut them down is a crippling blow to the food and beverages sector," Daryani said.
HRAEI will hold a meeting of its governing body members to discuss the issue on Monday, said president Sudesh Poddar. "We will seek our members' opinion," said Poddar. "A healthy mix of open air and closed spaces is needed for the growth of the industry. Open-air restaurants are now preferred for parties. But this shutdown has now put a question mark on their existence, affected their goodwill and continuity. They may also lose customers," said Daryani.
According to an association member, an amicable solution is necessary, taking the civic authorities and the govt into confidence to resolve the issue quickly.
Those associated with the industry also hoped that action will be taken only against those who flout norms. "We guess notices have been served only to those with illegal constructions on their rooftops. This can be corrected while the rest may function normally," said a restaurant owner.
"We are staring at a crisis since our rooftop section was the main attraction. While our indoor section is functional, we are staring at a revenue drop," said the owner of a rooftop restaurant.