Despite reports of hospitality closures, some restaurants are surviving the tough environment and keeping their loyal customers faithful.
In the past year, 2564 hospitality businesses have shut, up 19% from the year before.
According to a Radio NZ report, there had been 297 hospitality businesses liquidated over the same period, compared with 199 last year.
Many businesses were reaching a tipping point that they could not get past, the report said.
Costs were rising, and there was only so much the businesses could increase their charges.
These are some that are still around today, many decades after they first opened.
PEARL GARDEN (operating since 1975)
Level 1, 1 Teed Street, Newmarket. pearlgarden.co.nz
The iconic Chinese restaurant in Newmarket is today helmed by third-generation Chris Kan.
The business was started by his grandmother Pauline Kan a little more than 50 years ago with just eight tables, 30 plates and 30 bowls.
At the start, Kan, who used to run a cooking show in Hong Kong before moving to NZ, would do everything from purchasing ingredients, cooking and even washing up.
Pearl Garden was the restaurant that introduced the concept of Yum Cha to Auckland.
Chris told Chow Luck Club that having faithful and loyal regulars has helped the business survive.
He said they regarded many of their customers “like family” and believed the business could survive as long as it had their support.
THE ORIGINAL TONY’S STEAK HOUSE (founded 1963)
27 Wellesley St West, Auckland City. tonys.co.nz
The original restaurant was opened by Tony White in 1963 as a spaghetti house before being turned into a steakhouse.
Today there are two Tony’s around, with the original being on Wellesley Street and the other is Tony’s Lord Nelson on Victoria Street. At one time there were seven Tony’s around Auckland, separately owned.
Kelson Henderson, the current owner, Kenneth’s son, oversees the original restaurant today.
Tony’s was opened when Keith Holyoake was midway through his first term as New Zealand’s prime minister and has survived 17 prime ministers.
“It’s sometimes still hard to believe we’ve beaten the odds, but here we are still sizzling at 60,” Henderson said in an interview with the NZ Herald in 2023.
When the restaurant opened, a steak dinner cost $4 but most cost upwards of $40.
Carpet Bag - fillet steak stuffed with oysters - remains the top favourite for customers.
Henderson said that a large part of them surviving “has to do with our loyal customers”.
MEXICAN CAFE (established 1983)
1/67 Victoria St West, Auckland CBD. mexicancafe.co.nz
Mexican Cafe first opened in Albert Street with 24 seats and a BYO licence by Bruce Glover.
It was one of the first open-kitchen restaurants in New Zealand.
Bruce said in a media interview once that at the time, they grew their own coriander and chillis as they were difficult to find in Auckland.
It moved to its Victoria Street location since 1985 - after battling with the Council to approve bar stools.
At the time, it was illegal to order a drink at the bar and had to be through a waitperson.
Mexican Cafe holds salsa-dancing nights and daily happy hours from 4pm to 6pm, which it had done for years.
Bruce said in an interview with the NZ Herald that it was important for the business to “remain the same” as customers who come for the past few decades expect the same at every visit.
