A Maleny cafe has declared “we love all our customers equally” as it takes an inclusive stand against the division caused by the State Government’s vaccine mandate.
Monica’s Cafe and Dining has decided it will serve only takeaway from December 17 when rules come into effect barring unvaccinated people from hospitality and other venues.
Although it means their business will take a financial hit from closing its dining service, the mother and daughter owners said it was the right thing to do for their community.
Co-owner Bree Watson, 27, said they did not want to take sides between vaccinated and unvaccinated customers but wanted to continue welcoming everyone.
“We’re not worried about people’s (vaccine) status, so that’s not really what we’re getting into,” she said.
“We love everyone. For 18 years we’ve been open and we’ve welcomed everyone into our doors and we don’t want to stop that now.”
After sharing their decision in a Facebook post, Bree said they had been overwhelmed by the positive feedback and people turning up from across the Coast and Brisbane.
“Since we announced it a couple of days ago people are coming in and just thanking us and come from all over the place just to support us which is really nice to see and really heart-warming to know there’s still people out there that are going to be coming in,” she said.
“We were definitely worried that we would get some negative comments but I don’t think we got one … it was just people saying ‘Thank-you’.
“There are a lot of customers, regardless of their (vaccine) status who just agree and believe the mandates are a bit unfair.”
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Under State Government directives coming into place, unvaccinated people will not be allowed to attend a range of premises including cafes and restaurants.
But unvaccinated people are permitted enter a venue to order takeaway and can also use drive-thrus.
Sunshine Coast Council last Thursday debated the impact on businesses of the mandatory vaccine rules.
Councillor Winston Johnston said the mandate was having a particularly stressful impact in his division, which included hinterland towns from Peachester through to Conondale.
Cr Johnston said some districts had vaccination rates as low as 20 per cent, which could hurt businesses not only through fewer customers but also less staff.
“Some parts are 95 per cent fully vaccinated but there are a couple of areas I’m aware of that are nowhere near that level; it’s a lifestyle decision some people make,” he said.
“Quite a number of businesses are really stressed by it (the vaccine mandate) because they feel the guidelines are still not really clear regarding who is really responsible for making sure unvaccinated people are not on the premises.
“If you don’t do it correctly, they can’t afford the fine and can’t afford to have a staff member there all the time checking, and the abuse staff might get.”
- Related story: Cafes fear closure as vaccine mandate bites
Bree said providing takeaway only meant their 15 staff would not have the burden of having to police customers for their vaccine status.
“When the directives came out first, it caused a lot of stress and anxiety for us and for our customers,” she said.
“We had a few customers come in that were very worried that they wouldn’t be able to come in for their weekly coffee and sandwich catch-up with their friends.
“People in tears basically just over the whole thing.
“When they said anyone who hasn’t had the double jab can have takeaway only we said ‘That’s it, that’s the decision.
“Having takeaway takes away the stress of having to police it.”
Bree said closing down dining would hurt the business’s bottom line but it was an impact she and her mother were willing to take.
She said they would ensure staff got enough work they needed and her mother had also volunteered to cut back her own hours for others.
“We’ll take that little hit to the business but hopefully it’s not too much,” she said.
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“Hopefully it won’t be too bad and fingers crossed we have lots of people coming to support us, but we’re just going to do the best that we can with what we’ve got.”
Bree encouraged people to make the most of Maleny’s outdoor spaces and parks to enjoy their takeaway coffee and a bite to eat.
She said the cafe used environmentally sustainable packaging, but was also encouraging customers to bring their own coffee mugs and food containers.
Bree said Monica’s would continue this way until the health directives were changed to allow everyone to sit down for a meal.
“I guess it’s a day-by-day thing at the moment. We can pray for a Christmas miracle…but we are just going to do this until such time as we’ll be able to welcome everybody for dine in again.”
