SkyCity Convention fire leaves Auckland business counting the cost of lost sales
Thursday, 24 October 2019
The fire at SkyCity's convention centre that forced dozens of businesses to shut shop has left them tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket in sales.
Businesses throughout Auckland's central business district have had to close their doors and send staff home as the city filled with thick, black smoke from the huge blaze.
Convenience store 7-7 Mart owner Karam Ayasrah said he lost $12,000 in two days due to the SkyCity convention centre fire.
Ayasrah said while the store was closed for customers on Wednesday due to the smoke, he continued to prepare for Labour Weekend.
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'To prepare for the long weekend we made more orders, because of the traffic it's slowed down the deliveries. I'm still waiting for three more to come today,' Ayasrah said.
About two shops down, Victoria Street Coffee Club owner Allen Sun said he had lost more than $5000 in sales due to being closed for a day-and-a-half.
'We've had to throw out the food we had prepared earlier. Also have to pay staff. Worst comes to worst I'll just pay them,' Sun said.
He said eight workers were affected by the cafe being closed on Wednesday.
Sun said he was unsure whether his insurance policy covered him for financial damage caused within the first 24 hours of the fire.
On Wednesday lawyer Jeff Walters said businesses that were forced to close by the SkyCity fire could take legal action against construction company Fletcher.
But Sun said he had no plans to do so.
'We're too small to take legal action.'
Tevita Pua, manager of Goodtime Cafe, which is opposite the Sky Tower, said the business had lost about $8000 in sales on Wednesday when the store closed.
Daniele Nikay, a regular customer at the cafe, who lives in apartments opposite the Sky Tower, said thick black smoke filled his apartment on the 21st floor.
'I think the response has been pretty slow. I could see the fire building from my apartment. I left the window to do something and minutes later I could see the fire had spread,' Nikay said.
Convenience Store manager Vandam Gabani, about 120 metres from the convention centre, said the shop remained open.
Gabani said the wind direction meant his store was not affected by the smoke but the fire had significantly reduced foot traffic.
Sales had dropped 70 per cent and the last two days had been the quietest in the store's 14-year history.
Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said he did not know how many businesses in the CBD had been forced to close because of the fire but said emergency services had handled the diversions and traffic 'reasonably well'.
'This should be a reminder to people about the importance of having a plan in place and the readiness of people to be able to evacuate. Something like this can happen anywhere,' Barnett said.