Anger and frustration at Auckland Transport have followed the announcement that Onehunga Italian Restaurant, Little Sicily, has closed.
Despite opening in the post-covid era, it was a sad end for Onehunga eatery, Little Sicily.
Andrew Clapham, the restaurant’s owner, took to Facebook to share his disappointment and air his frustrations on contributing factors to Little Sicily’s demise.
“I would like to thank all my staff for their help and support over the last two years. It has never been easy, but you have given it your all, and I am grateful for that,” he said.
“In a message to Auckland Council and Auckland Transport. You should be held accountable to all small businesses when your actions cause businesses to lose their livelihoods. Caio.”
The restaurant’s closure came after it was revealed that Onehunga Mall was the second most ticketed street in Auckland for parking offences in 2025, with 8782 tickets issued between January and October.
Many customers of Little Sicily also took to Facebook to express their anger at the situation.
“It truly saddens me when small businesses are not supported by the council,” one comment said.
More were frustrated at the fact that customers could only park on the Mall for 30 minutes, which other restaurants in the area have continued to be plagued by.
Local politicians said that it was clear the current parking arrangements are not working as intended. The Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board said it has been working closely with Auckland Transport and has agreed to progress public consultation shortly on extending the time limits on the Mall.
Last week wasn’t a good week for Onehunga, which also saw a fire rampage through one of its local buildings. The mall was closed to vehicular traffic for a number of days in the aftermath.
A report from the Restaurant Association found that national hospitality sales for the Q3 of 2025 grew 5.9 percent, reaching NZD 4.05 billion. However, the improvement in revenue growth was not reflected in a proportional margin improvement, resulting in “elevated” menu prices.
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