Doctors' Protests Impact Kolkata's Restaurant Industry, Revenue Slump

Introduction

Kolkata’s bustling restaurant industry has been hit hard in recent weeks due to the ongoing protests following the tragic rape and murder of a woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Restaurant owners in the city report a sharp decline in sales, with some seeing a 15-20% drop in revenue over the past month.

Impact on Restaurant Revenue

The protests have created an environment of unrest, affecting businesses, particularly those in the food and beverage industry. Sudip Mallick, owner of the popular Bonne Femme Cafe, noted that weekday turnout had dwindled, with only weekends seeing any notable occupancy. However, since the festive season began on October 2 (Mahalaya), Mallick has seen a 100% occupancy rate at his 46-seater cafe.Despite this recent uptick due to the Durga Puja festivities, Mallick remains cautious. He stated that the usual festival buzz, which normally starts a month in advance, was delayed this year due to the unrest. His other ventures, including the specialty restaurant Sabeki and the iconic Balaram Mallick Radharaman Mallick sweet shop, have also been affected by the dip in the number of tourists visiting Kolkata this season.

Mixed Responses from Other Businesses 

While Mallick’s businesses have seen a noticeable impact, Siddhartha Gupta, co-founder of Traffic Gastropub, reported a different experience. According to Gupta, although the protests have affected parts of the city, his gastropub has not experienced the same level of revenue decline. However, a slight dip in footfall was still observed.

Conclusion

As the protests continue, Kolkata’s restaurant industry faces uncertainty. While the festive season has brought some relief, the ongoing unrest is likely to influence revenue patterns for the foreseeable future. Restaurant owners remain hopeful but wary, keeping a close eye on how both the protests and festivities shape their business in the coming weeks.

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