Sydney cafe sales increase after closure of child playroom
THE Black Mocha Cafe in Turramurra has experienced a significant boost in sales a week after owners John and Claudette Osterberg closed a playroom due to unruly children.
The pair told the North Shore Timesthat they have received congratulations from customers and phone calls from Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Mr Osterberg said sales have risen by more than 20 per cent due to the return of former customers.
“We were horrified by the amount of old customers who have come to us and say they can come back now that there is a civilised and quiet area,” Mr Osterberg said
“We did not know how many people were staying away because of the noise and irresponsible behaviour.
“They would have left over the past six to 18 months. It’s been a week since it hit the media but so far we have increased in sales by more than 20 per cent already.
“Every business owner has to evaluate their business as they see fit — I’ve heard rumours of others contemplating the same thing.”
The husband-and-wife team said they were ‘‘heartbroken’’ to take such a drastic stand but felt they had little choice to save their business.
They broke the news to customers on social media on October 20, saying children and adults with “deplorable manners” were no longer welcome in the cafe.
“Some parents would come in and sit on one coffee for three hours and let their kids run amok,” Mrs Osterberg told the Daily Telegraph.
“I’ve had children come in and do a No. 2 on the bathroom floor and parents just walk away and leave it there for my staff to clean up. It was feral behaviour.”
The Osterbergs plan to exhibit artworks in the vacant room and eventually create a lounge.
Source: The Australian / North Shore Times, Peter Theodosiou, 29th October 2015
Originally published as: Sydney cafe sales increase after closure of child playroom
