An online petition has been set up to help two coffee stalls “evicted” from a popular Sunday market.
The two vendors finished trading at the Caloundra Street Fair on January 26 after being informed two weeks prior that they would not be allowed to operate past that date.
Nelipot Coffee and I Make Coffee and Co were poplar coffee stops for visitors to Bulcock Street for the weekly market event.
Both businesses claimed there was a lack of communication and consultation from market organisers before being told to cease trading.
This has resulted in the business owners launching a joint petition to the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce, which operates the Caloundra Street Fair.
The petition refers to alleged complaints from neighbouring cafes as the reason for the shutdown.
A joint statement from both businesses to social media outlined how the owners were informed of the impending closure.
“On the 13th of January, we were sent an email from the markets giving us two weeks’ notice that from February 1st, there will be no more coffee vendors in the markets,” the post stated.
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There has been an overwhelming amount of community support on social media for both coffee stalls and the online petition has received more than 180 signatures since February 2.
Speaking with Sunshine Coast News, Nelipot Coffee owner Jaryd Cooper said he had been “hurt” by the sudden bump out.
“I have been part of the Caloundra Street Fair for six years, and to be given two weeks’ notice, and told there is no reason for me to be consulted, really does hurt,” Mr Cooper said.
“I have seen the changeover of CEOs, I have seen the changeover of market managers, I have seen all the cafes on the street either change owners or build their premises.
“By preventing my small business from trading, how am I meant to pay my everyday expenses such as food, rent, fuel?
“That is what Nelipot brought me, along with the ability to have the market family, including customers – it allowed me to relax while providing a service.
“It allowed me to do what I thoroughly enjoy doing, which is providing great service, giving a smile, having a yarn and making good coffee.”
Mr Cooper said the closure was based on an allegation from the market operators that “all of the cafes on the street have been complaining for 18 months”.
“I would have appreciated this information to assist in networking with the local cafes to ensure everybody could be successful,” Mr Cooper said.
“Unfortunately, speaking with the cafes, none that I spoke to had complained.”
Mr Cooper said the petition was seeking to have the coffee stalls immediately reinstated at the market, an investigation into the decision-making process to address transparency, and the implementation of guidelines to ensure future decisions involve input from all affected parties.
“I am hoping the petition will provide a platform for an independent review on how the decision to remove coffee was made, and by who,” Mr Cooper said.
“I am hoping this encourages transparent decision making by all market managers, and possible guidelines/procedures for how decisions are made.
“Currently decisions are made ‘at the market manager’s discretion’.
“This absolute governance is not conducive to community building.”
I Make Coffee and Co’s Nicole Williams said she was disappointed with how the situation was handled.
“In my opinion, the situation should have been handled with more notice, professionalism and communication,” she said.
“We are still without any response from the markets/market manager regarding this decision when all we have been trying to do was get a little more understanding and notice of the decision.
“As vendors that rely solely on the income of the markets, quick decisions like this could potentially mean the permanent closure of business just like Nelipot and myself are both currently facing.”
Ms Williams said she felt like the decision singled out the coffee businesses.
“To be honest, it doesn’t make sense that coffee vendors are the only ones affected,” she said.
“If it’s about supporting shops without adding ‘competition’, why aren’t food vendors, jewellery and clothing vendors affected to?”
Ms Williams said she hoped the petition would prevent this from happening to other mobile businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
“At the end of the day, mobile businesses are a business too, and an integral part of the Sunshine Coast markets and events,” she said.
“We give up every weekend, happily, to show up and be at these markets and have done for over two years now – five years for Nelipot.
“I truly find it so upsetting more notice, respect and communication wasn’t given, especially when the markets are completely aware of the extensive wait list for coffee vendors to get into the markets.”
The Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and Caloundra Street Fair manager have been contacted for comment.
