A sea of orange cones, diggers and red tape have limited access to Karangahape Road restaurants and bars.
Whilst construction and roadworks have plagued Auckland city hospitality businesses in the past, restaurants along Karangahape Road have had enough.
The popular central promenade, which features a high amount of restaurants and bars, has had to operate with limited car parking, antisocial behaviour, and ongoing council obstacles, which has ultimately turned customers away.
Amid the challenging current economic climate, many beloved restaurants and cafes have been forced to shut down. This has not only dealt a heavy blow to the area but also to the Auckland hospitality scene as a whole.
Recent Government figures indicate that unemployment is at its highest point in over three years, and consumer retail spending has significantly dropped.
A main cause of disruption has been the City Rail Link underground train line, which is currently under construction. Although planned to open to the public in 2026, preliminary work on the project began in 2016. Covid-19 did cause a heavy delay in construction. One of the three newly built train stations along the city rail link route will to connect Karangahape Road.
One restaurant owner along Karangahape Road has also noted looting as another problem tackling businesses in the area. The significant loss of furniture and plants from outdoor areas has become a pressing issue, as well as violent threats from locals making the environment unpleasant for some.
Many restaurant owners have urged the council to have more consideration for them, especially during the planning process of major projects. Several said they had not been consulted on any dates or times that construction would take place.
Recently, fellow Auckland suburb Ponsonby was hit by a wave of restaurant closures due to the crippling economy. Of these, the modern Italian restaurant SPQR shut its doors, citing significant overhead costs as a reason for its downfall. Similarly, Chapel Bar & Bistro also closed following an announcement it had entered receivership.
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