The restaurant at 151 Bourke Street, Jr., was declared temporarily closed for renovation but may be permanently closed
The fear of the new Crown virus, known as`Chestiri`, has kept Melbourne people away from Chinatown, making one of the lot`s most popular Chinese restaurants, the Shark Fin House, unable to operate, and announcing it will be closed for renovations.
The restaurant, which has been in business for 30 years, was declared "interior renovations" from Monday, February 10, to Thursday, February 20, and may not reopen, the Times reported.
Food first group Common Gabriel Chan, one of the founders, said the Chinese restaurant, which has been operating since Year Nine`s Eighty-nine, had to close its doors from Sunday, dismissing more than 40 regulars and 10 temporary workers because of fear of the new virus.
Food first had two outlets in Melbourne`s Chinatown, and on the same street, it was the branch at 131 Little Bourke Street that had been forced to close from Sunday. It is reported that the usual crowded small Burke Street area, now less than 50% of the flow.
Notice of suspension of renovations. Customers are invited to another restaurant
Mr. Chen broke down in tears when he spoke about having to close one of the branches to keep another. He also implored the public to support another old eater, Shark Fin Inn, at 50 Bob`s Street, to avoid the 38-year-old restaurant also being forced to close.
Vanessa Lau, managing director of veteran food, confirmed today that sister shops that had announced a suspension could close forever.
Today, a lot of customers go to the old food for lunch to show support and the restaurant is full.
Nick Reece, of Melbourne City, had earlier this week questioned the overreaction of the media and government to the outbreak. In an interview with radio station 3aw, he said there was an unreasoning "hestian" for pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus.
He said:" First of all, I would say that we may have to take precautions not to regret afterwards."
"But I also think there`s a lot of media hysteria around, and there`s a lot of overreaction from government, not just in Australia but around the world. "
Members of Melbourne`s Chinese Freemasonry Association, Australia`s Emergency Mutual Aid Association and other Chinese Society members yesterday held a community lunch dinner for first-time drinkers in support of the food industry affected by the outbreak. Jenny Mikakos, the head of the state health department, and Chinese consular officials were among the participants.
Director mccax called for calm in the face of the outbreak, saying many stores in chinatown are still open.
Shoppers in Sydney`s Chinatown have also told news.com.au that local businesses have also been hit hard.
