Another three bite the dust
The Herald reports:
Wellington’s Bordeaux Bakery is closing all three of its stores, with the owner blaming council road changes outside its Thorndon Quay business for a significant reduction in revenue.
The bakery and cafes in Thorndon Quay, Featherston St, and Lambton Quay are all closing on Sunday, and the wholesale bakery operation too.
Owner Tony Bates told the Herald he was devastated to have to shut up shop, and primarily blames the council’s “ongoing removal of car parks”.
“Everyone keeps telling us how hard it is to get to us”, he said.
I know the TQ Bordeaux Baker well. I lived opposite it for 14 years and my office has been within 50 metres of it for over 20 years. Great food and great service. It is very sad to see them go.
As someone who has lived and worked there for 20 years, I have first hand experience of what it is like to access it, Since 2015 when I moved away, I need to find a park when popping into my office which is almost next door.
It used to be easy. There was always a park within 50 metres or so. Now it is is near impossible. You circle around and around until one comes free, or you give up.
I find it interesting that certain supporters of the current Council leadership always rush in and claim they know better than the actual business owners why they have closed. In this case we have seen them claim that the food was rubbish since a change of ownership many years ago, and that the fact another cafe on another road around a km away hasn’t closed, that it is the fault of the business. This mob are so good at victim blaming, they could be defence lawyers for Harvey Weinstein. Oh they also blame the Government’s public service cuts.,
“We’ve lost between 60-70% of our turnover because of the works outside.”
Business owners monitor sales and patronage on a weekly or daily basis. They know when things change.
Council documents from 2021 outline plans to reduce the total number of car parks on the stretch from 333 to 202, which it said was “expected to be sufficient based on average occupancy”.
Someone should explain the difference between average and peak to the Council.