Well known Mountains restaurateurs Mary-Jane Craig and Corinne Evatt believe it takes a lot of "time, energy, money, skills and courage to open any business and it's sad when they fall over through no fault of their own".
"It's also a great loss to the community, the economy and the vibrancy of our region" said Ms Craig. "It's been very sobering to drive down Katoomba Street in the past four months of lockdown and see for lease signs," she added.
But after almost eight months in total of business lockdown since the pandemic started, the co-owners of Cinnabar in Blackheath are excited to welcome back fully vaccinated diners on November 3.
"We chose this date to allow a buffer between the hope of promised 'freedoms' by the middle of October, balanced against the possible threat of further lockdown.
Many restaurateurs and other businesses have experienced testing times in these past four months, along with the financial and social challenges.
The pair said the vaccination debate was perhaps the most challenging for the hospitality industry generally.
"Until the Public Health Orders were announced, we believed restaurateurs had, by default, been forced to become the states' de-facto gatekeepers of public health.
"Without initial government clarity on the indemnity for the 'individual' decisions we were being asked to make, we were effectively all stranded in a kind of uneasy legal and moral limbo.
Without initial government clarity on the indemnity for the 'individual' decisions we were being asked to make, we were effectively all stranded in a kind of uneasy legal and moral limbo
- Mary-Jane Craig
"It was during this uncomfortable limbo we decided to 'call it' in order to offer our guests and staff clarity and transparency."
The pair used the first long imposed closure to create a private dining upstairs which means they can have 30 people inside under the one person per four square metre rule.
Ms Craig said "freedom to commune with our favourite people in our favourite restaurants is just a whisper away. The Blue Mountains Hospitality world can't wait for that day when we can welcome you all to our tables."
For details/bookings call 4787 7269 or www.cinnabar.kitchen
