Kolkata’s food and beverage industry has faced a significant blow amid ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Several restaurant owners have reported a sharp decline in sales, with many experiencing a 15-20 per cent drop in revenue over the past month, reports the news agency, PTI.
Sudip Mallick, owner of Bonne Femme café, highlighted the drop in footfall during evening hours on weekdays, although a surge in patrons was noted with the start of the Durga Puja festivities. “Since Mahalaya on October 2, we’ve been seeing 100 per cent occupancy,” he said. Mallick also operates the Sabeki restaurant and the Balaram Mallick Radharaman Mallick sweet shop, where tourist footfall has also been notably lower than in previous years.
Siddhartha Gupta, co-founder of Traffic Gastropub, noted a dip in footfall during Happy Hours and late-night sessions, causing a 5-10 per cent decline in ROI. However, he expressed optimism, saying, “Durga Puja has already started to lift sales, and we expect further recovery during the festive period.”
Swastik Nag, founder of Canteen Pub and Grub, reported a sharper drop in sales—between 20-30 per cent. He observed that the protests had impacted a wide range of customers, including college students, homemakers, and the nightlife crowd. Despite the challenges, Nag anticipated a recovery during Durga Puja, though on a more modest scale than in previous years.
Azra Golam, director of Aminia Restaurants, also confirmed a 10-15 per cent dip in sales due to the protests. She emphasised the balancing act between empathy for the cause and the restaurant industry’s struggle for recovery during the festival period.
Other restaurant owners, including the co-founders of Yellow Straw and Craft Coffee, reported similar trends. Yellow Straw’s founders highlighted a 25 per cent drop in sales, driven by reduced footfalls in malls and traffic snarls caused by the protests. However, optimism for a recovery during the four days of Durga Puja remains high.
As the protests continue, Kolkata’s food and beverage sector is cautiously optimistic that the Durga Puja festivities will provide much-needed relief and a boost in revenue.