While dining establishments have developed creative settings to attract customers for Valentine’s Day celebrations, gift shops are still facing the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on businesses.
With the Guyana Tourism Authority recently approving over 40 restaurants for indoor dining, it gives persons who might be looking for a place to grab a bite or sit down to a dinner on Sunday, an option to enjoy. A number of restaurants have posted extras they have included to fit the occasion, some of which include regular dining as offered every day, and even dinner and a photo. Speaking with this newspaper, Mark Persaud, the manager at the Bistro Café and Bar at 176 Middle & Waterloo streets, Georgetown, said that the establishment will be offering a 40 per cent price reduction on indoor dining. Persaud said that the bar will be offering a special 30 per cent off on all rosé wines; these include Chaman Reserve Rosé, Montes Cherub Rosé, Bollinger Rosé Champagne, and Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé. The offer extends to both dine-in or take-out. Persons can take advantage of this special offer from February 5 to 14. The manager added that because indoor dining now has a limited seating capacity, persons who prefer to dine indoors are advised to make their reservations early.
Another dining establishment offering a special treat on Sunday is the Gourmet Grub located at R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. The Gourmet Grub is offering a Valentine’s dinner and a French kiss photo, which involves the couple taking a photo while kissing before sitting down to eat. The owner, Arifa Mohammed, told this newspaper that there is a special set up for the photos to be taken. There will be balloons and a Valentine-themed backdrop as well as a ring light for persons who might want to take their own selfies. She explained that the photo is optional and will be printed and handed over to the couple on the spot. A bottle of wine is also included with the dinner.
The Des Patisseries and the Pergola Smoke Shack and Lounge in the Court Yard Mall at 76 Robb Street in George-town, is offering a picnic on the lawns this weekend. While this event will not be on Valentine’s Day, it offers a bit of twist to the usual dining experience. Persons can enjoy a picnic with live entertainment from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Saturday. The picnic will be held at Kingston, Georgetown, rather than its usual Robb Street location.
While restaurants have created an atmosphere to entice diners, the gift shops continue to face the lack of business caused by shoppers remaining at home due to the pandemic. A sales representative from Natasha’s Gift Centre related that the gift shop has seen a reduction in sales which is not common during the Valentine’s Day period. She said that persons are usually excited to shop at the gift centre. When this newspaper visited there were just a few patrons inside. The shop was decorated with red and white balloons and red streamers to catch the eyes of shoppers, however, according to the representative, the decorations are far less than the establishment would usually have and the customers are lacking.
“We decorated a bit but it’s boring. It doesn’t usually be like this but I guess next week when we bring in our flowers it will be a little bit more picked up. The pandemic actually pressure us. Everything is slow for us. Valentine would be big and bigger every year. Person should usually shop here and even call in and get stuff but everybody cut down with everything,” the woman told Stabroek News. She ruefully added, “If I get three orders for a day, that’s a good amount.”
Meanwhile, the sister of the owner of Escada Gift Shop, located on the first floor of the City Mall said that the business which sells perfumes, colognes, chocolates, candy, stuffed bears and synthetic roses, as well as other gift options, has been getting far less customers than in previous years. She said that because there are far less persons traversing and hanging out in the mall, there are far less shoppers.
“Business is very slow. Very down. But people would come in and out. It is so bad because the mall does not really have anybody. You know people don’t really come in the mall like before. Since the pandemic [started] business is very slow,” the woman related.
During this newspaper’s visit to the shop, it was observed that the store was decked out in red and pink, giving a sort of Valentine’s Day vibe, so as to pique the interest of potential consumers. However, due to the decrease in mall traffic, the woman said the business has slowed down and she is not very confident that the usual festivities that attend February 14th will speed up business because since the beginning of the month, there hasn’t been any sort of change.
She noted that persons still buy and with the special day approaching she is hopeful that more persons will come out to get their significant other a present. In terms of sales promotions, she mentioned that customers will receive either a bottle of wine or a rose depending on the price of their purchase.
However, as gift shops are facing a slow turnout for gift buying, a flower shop manager told this newspaper that flowers are a year-round purchase, and business picks up especially during the Valentine period. Samaria Deonauth, who is the manager at Nesha’s Flowerland located at 78 Church & Carmichael streets opposite the St George’s Cathedral, told this newspaper that Valentine’s Day is often a very busy period for the flower shop. And this year is no different. While many other stores have been hit with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Deonauth said the flower shop has been receiving orders for the February date since December. She said that hundreds of roses are ordered every year for the special day. She also said that she is assuming that persons are still ordering just as much this year because there isn’t much else to do with most places being closed and that there isn’t much to celebrate. “I believe because there isn’t much to celebrate, why not celebrate the person you love?”
