While Melbourne may be quieter during office hours,Miles said the city had revived at night-time,as nearly half of its late-night food and drink businesses traded from 9pm to midnight,and a quarter traded between midnight and 3am.
Foot traffic in Southbank was the busiest,at 104.6 per cent of the pre-COVID benchmark in January and up 62.7 per cent compared to the same period last year,while Chinatown was at 94.7 per cent of the pre-COVID benchmark.
“We are actually seeing a true uplift,” Miles said. “However,from a business point of view,as we dive deeper,their costs are going up as well. So the numbers are great indicators,but we can’t just rest on those laurels.”
The City of Melbourne has estimated the city’s night-time economy supports more than 31,000 jobs.
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Gehan Rajapakse,the owner of Fable bar in the CBD,said January’s good weather had bolstered numbers at the rooftop venue.
“Corporates are slowly coming back and there is a change in the way they come to the city. Mid-week has really dropped off,but the back end of the week has picked up,” he said.
“Companies are letting people work from home,but they still want them to come into the office for social activities to bond.”
Rajapakse said night-time trade was stronger than he expected over summer.
“The dining and cocktail crowd have learnt how to entertain themselves at home,so when they come out it has to be pretty special,” he said.
“We have positioned ourselves as a destination venue you come to for an anniversary or something,and for those events people are prepared to spend a little bit more.”
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said Melbourne was known around the world for its live music,food and late-night bars.
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“We’re embracing the Roaring ’20s,with night-time spending outstripping that of 2019[and] bolstering confidence for our small business owners,who make up the unique fabric that is Melbourne,” she said.
“Locals and visitors alike are falling in love with Melbourne after dark all over again.”
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