GEORGE TOWN: With most curbs lifted in the transition to an endemic Covid-19 state, eatery operators hope the days of getting zero business are firmly behind them.

       They remember the period of uncertainties when the country was put under the movement control order (MCO) several times, and they were forced to close shop because they could not bear the losses.

       Now, they just want things to get back to normal.

       New Cathay Cafe owner Ooi Hock Chun, 51, said he closed his shop for six weeks – the longest in his 30 years in the business.

       The government initially announced a two-week restriction to curb the spread of Covid-19.

       “I had thought it would be over soon, and decided to close the cafe to be safe.

       “But when the government kept extending the MCO, I couldn’t keep up with the losses and reopened after a six-week break for takeaways.

       “We had never closed the cafe for this long. Even for Chinese New Year, it would only be for five days or so,” he said.

       Ooi said throughout the cafe’s closure during the MCO, he did not collect any rent from the over 10 hawkers trading there.

       “When we reopened for only takeaways, their business was still pretty slow but somehow they managed to pay me rental.

       “Since dine-in was not allowed, I could not sell many drinks and I, too, just scraped through,” he said.

       Ooi hopes that with the situation improving after two years of bringing Covid-19 under control, business will brighten up as before.

       “We have many loyal customers and they are returning for breakfast,” he added.

       Pancake seller Lee Seok Luan, 58, who has been trading at the cafe for more than 10 years, said she had no earnings during the MCO.

       “I just stayed at home and waited, hoping that the situation would improve quickly.

       “I lost about RM2,000 in income during the closure,” she said.

       Lee, whose pancakes use toppings such as raisins, sesame seeds and banana, is now open daily for breakfast except Sundays.

       One prominent hawker food business which was closed during the MCO but has since reopened is the famous laksa in Ayer Itam.

       It was closed for months from May to December last year.

       The business suffered losses not only because of the absence of tourists but also because of creditors who tried to claim settlement for the debts accrued by the owner’s son.

       Ang Kak Seong told the media then that the family had decided to stop temporarily after creditors went to the stall to collect debts several times.