They closed on Monday, but the staff wanted to return for Tuesday, unsure how it would go.
“We had a full house last night, which I was really surprised by,” he said. “So do people want to get out and go, ‘Hey, we’re not going to be beaten by this’?
Tony Gosden from Tony's Burger Joint at Bondi Beach. Photo / RNZ, Charlotte Cook
It’s also complicated.
“It’s going to be weird for a really long time, but the next couple of weeks, everyone’s just meant to be, you know, sort of celebrating life, and being happy and stuff, and now... it doesn’t feel that way.”
Gosden said the terrorist attack had changed the trajectory of the summer.
“This is probably going to be the best summer we’ve had in years... and us personally, as a business... we’ve been booming, absolutely booming.
“I think what’s just happened has put a massive cloud over the whole of Bondi and the whole festive season, and the way people are feeling.
“I think everyone wants to get on and have a good festive season, but it’s going to be really tough to celebrate anything, with what’s happened.”
He described the atmosphere as heavy, similar to when Covid hit – downtrodden.
Peter Papas, from Kazzi Beach Greek, hadn’t noticed a difference in his patronage. He had put up Israeli flags in support of the Jewish community.
Papas said people had been stopping in, appreciative of his gesture, but he didn’t know what was to come for the festive season.
“People around here are not going to be silenced and they’re going to, if anything, defiantly get back to normal life as fast as they can.”
Johnny Weiler from Jono's Kitchen at Bondi Beach. Photo / RNZ, Charlotte Cook
He said he’s also had people stop in, critical of him for hanging the flags. Papas said that showed the tensions in the community.
Johnny Weiler, from Jono’s Kitchen, grew up in Israel – he’s used to violent attacks.
He hadn’t lost trade and said lots of people from out of Bondi came in to deliver flowers to the memorial.
The story is different for those behind the cordon,
About 500m of the main road along the waterfront is still closed.
The Government and the Insurance Council is forcing insurers to pay Bondi attack claims, overruling terror exclusions with official declarations of a terrorist and significant event.
Signs in windows after the attack at Bondi Beach. Photo / RNZ, Charlotte Cook
These declarations allow a special fund to be accessed to help, something that hasn’t been done since the Lindt Cafe Sydney siege in 2014.
Insurance or not, these businesses are determined the tight community will pull through.
“Again, I think maybe that’s defiance talking, but we’re looking forward to life carrying on and, if anything, getting better eventually,” Papas said. “We’re just not going to be cowed into behaving differently because of what’s happened.”
