Unlock 1.0: Restaurant, salon owners in Patna rue poor footfall

PATNA: Eateries, salons and barber shops in the city are having a tough time even after more than a month of Unlock 1.0 as residents still avoid visiting them due to coronavirus fear. While the footfall is less than 30% at beauty and hair salons, hardly five-six customers visit any restaurant. The dislike for China has added to the woes of a few Chinese-cuisine restaurants as residents have started boycotting them.
Pramod Kumar, manager of a restaurant on Ashiana-Digha Road, said there has been a slight change in the people’s attitude because of its name. “We are aware of the ongoing situation and people’s dislike for Chinese items. We can’t say whether the rage towards China is the only reason behind less footfall as Covid-19 has also affected our business. However, we buy raw materials from the local market and our restaurant is completely Indian,” he said.
Few residents, however, said boycotting restaurants just because they are specialized in Chinese food isn’t a solution. “Not visiting Chinese-cuisine restaurants is nothing more than stupidity. These restaurants have nothing to do with China,” said Aryan Raj of Nahar Khagaul Road area.
Other restaurant owners also rued the poor footfall. Shibu Kumar of a restaurant on Bailey Road said people still fear of getting infected.
Few others, however, said people were opting for home delivery. Pankaj Kumar Jha of a restaurant in Bandar Bagicha said the number of orders by phone calls or online platforms has increased due to the pandemic. “The customers’ footfall is comparatively less, but it is increasing with every passing day. As of now, we are receiving an average number of customers. though we sanitize the cutlery and crockery using latest techniques in front of the customers,” he said.
Eateries apart, manager of a unisex salon in Boring Road, Ramesh Shrivastava, said the decreasing footfall of customers has made him helpless. “The situation is so bad that our loyal customers are also not visiting us,” he said.
The owner of a beauty parlour in Kadamkuan, Shobha Kumari, also said customers have stopped coming. “Despite taking all precautionary measures, I failed to attract customers. If the same situation prevails, I will have to shut it and look for an alternative business,” she said.