‘Opportunities just aren’t there’: Egmont St owner explains diner’s closure

Thursday, 5 September 2024

After nine years of serving Wellington, Egmont St Deli & Diner is closing its doors, yet another indicator of the constant blows hitting the city’s hospitality industry.

The owner of Egmont St Deli & Diner, which is closing at the end of the month, says the “opportunities just aren’t there any more”.

Simon Pepping said that it was originally a great experience opening up a business in 2015. “It was a really exciting time.”

But nowadays he was not so optimistic.“Wellington is depressing.”

Pepping said he hadn’t been in it for the money but had been passionate about bringing a different perspective full of creativity to the Wellington food scene.

But he said, “There's no point running yourself into the ground.”

Egmont St Deli & Diner owner Simon Pepping is closing the eatery after nine years.

Pepping looked back on highlights of his eatery, hosting international chefs, being involved in the tourism community and collaborating with Air New Zealand and Visa Wellington on a Plate.

“Opportunities just aren’t there any more.”

He was hoping last month’s Wellington On a Plate food festival would alleviate some of the pressure but was met with a 56% decrease in revenue instead. “Dead before and dead after. We didn't see any light at the end of the tunnel.”

Some literal roadblocks had tainted the area around his business in the last few years.

Pepping said the building next door was under construction for strengthening for 18 months recently, and the cobblestones that made up the lane would soon be ripped up to fix the pipes. “The work needs to be done, but not all at once.”

There was, he said, no escape for businesses from the grinding difficulties in the central city.

The art installation outside the eatery on Egmont Street was rusted and covered in graffiti .The lack of parking nearby also didn’t help said the restaurant owner Simon Pepping.

“Look at what they’re doing to Courtenay (Place). If I didn’t need to come in, I wouldn’t leave Miramar,” Pepping said.

Since The Post’s June article on the Egmont St institution, a further three businesses, including Concord Bistro & bar, have said they will close up shop.

“There’s more to come,” Pepping said.

He cited a multitude of reasons for the shutdown of his business.

On top of Covid-19, staffing shortages, nearby social housing developments and other construction projects, council decisions had only damaged the business, Pepping said.

Even for the windows of the eatery to be installed, it took six months of arguing between the fire department and council over rules.

Pepping said the street used to be an Instagram hot spot, but now it seemed desolate.

The art installation outside the eatery on Egmont Street was rusted and covered in graffiti. There was also a lack of parking nearby, a prominent issue for the business.

“Just trying to get into the city is hard. It's just an absolute mess.”

Pepping said he never noticed a difference when cruise ships returned, nor from the construction of the nearby Tākina Convention Centre.

If the council listened to people like him and small businesses, it would help the problems. The Wellington hospitality industry “has some really good people,” he said.

Pepping was concerned for his staff as well and “didn’t know what they were going to do”.

When asked if he would create a new business in the future, Pepping said “absolutely not”.

The struggles he experienced had taken a toll on his mental health and family. “I can't see things improving for a very long time.”