It's always a toss-up whether to open on a public holiday or not, Big Orange owner David Sutherland says.
"You make the decision to be open, or you don't."
His cafe was one of the busiest in Whanganui's Victoria Ave on Monday, Labour Day.
The Big Orange is only ever closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. But he said the staff working for him on Monday were all getting the equivalent of two and a half times their usual pay.
They get paid time and a half for working on that day. Then they also get another paid day off on some other day they can choose in the coming year. Or they can choose to take cash instead of that.