Restaurants say no to holiday surcharges

Eat Streat

Most of Rotorua's restaurants and cafes won't charge a surcharge this Easter - saying customers would go elsewhere if they did.

However, some are instead opting to close their doors on one or both of the public holidays this weekend.

Cafe and restaurant owners are allowed to add a surcharge on Good Friday and Easter Monday as they have to pay staff more on public holidays.

Mac's Steaks Restaurant owner Mary Macfarlane said despite the extra cost, her Eat Streat restaurant had never charged surcharges.

"It puts New Zealanders off," she said. "I think locals are getting used to the ones that do and don't [charge it]."

She said Mac's would be open every day, including breakfast from 10am on Sunday.

She said they were still deciding whether it was worth opening for breakfast on Monday.

"We don't know how many people will be around, people often drive home on the Monday."

Mrs Macfarlane said Mac's had shut on other public holidays as they had to make about two-and-a-half times what they normally did just to break even.

"It's always a gamble."

Capers Epicurean owner Gregg Brown said the cafe would have a 15 per cent surcharge tomorrow and Monday.

He said that was due to wage costs - "our public holiday wage bill equals sales".

Mr Brown said he didn't want to charge extra throughout the year for the benefit of the few that visited on public holidays.

"We've been through it a million times, there's no way around it," he said.

"We make no money on public holidays, we make less of a loss if we have a surcharge."

Mr Brown's other business, The Pig and Whistle, won't impose a surcharge.

"They're different business models, [Pig & Whistle has] less wage costs."

Urbano Bistro owner Richard Sewell said they would open as usual Saturday and Sunday but will not open tomorrow or Monday: "We can't afford to open."

Aroma Cafe has also chosen to close those two days, Leonardo's Pure Italian will stay shut on Monday and Ciccio Italian Cafe will close tomorrow.

Brew Craft Beer Pub manager Mel Rolfe said Brew would be open every day, including for breakfasts.

There would be no surcharge, she said.

She said she was expecting a good crowd over the long weekend, especially with a band booked to play on Eat Streat on Saturday night.

Ambrosia Restaurant & Bar,

Fat Dog Cafe & Bar, Cafe de Paris and Lime Caffeteria all said they would be open as usual with no surcharge.

Palmers Garden Centre in Rotorua will be open tomorrow - risking a $1000 fine for breaking Easter trading laws.

Most shops - with the exceptions listed above - are barred from opening tomorrow or Easter Sunday.

As a tourist destination, Taupo's shops may open on Sunday, something many believe should also apply to Rotorua.

Mr Brown said Rotorua businesses had been trying for a long time to get the rules changed and he hoped MP Todd McClay may have more luck now he was Associate Tourism Minister.