Merlino said patronage at his other venues – Kittyhawk, Big Poppa’s and The Lobo – remained at similar levels to last year, but people were spending less.
However, he said the cost of energy and insurance was “through the roof”, while wages, food and alcohol continued to rise.
“I think there is trepidation with winter coming if these costs keep going up, and spending continues to fall,” he said. “It’s definitely not as easy as it once was and margins are getting smaller.”
However, Merlino said venues were increasingly offering happy hours and discount offers in a bid to attract customers.
“If we want people to come out two or three nights a week, we can’t expect them to spend $120 plus each night,” he said. “We…
