Doubtless that’s a factor but the same phenomenon would be ocurring even if we were in an economic boom.
Prior to 1980 restaurants were virtually non-existent.
The practice then was to eat at home, dinner being virtually an all-day preparation task by the wife/mother of the household. People entertained one another over a home-cooked meal.
That was feasible as once married and starting a family, back then very few such women worked in outside employment, their days being fully preoccupied in household chores.
Then seemingly overnight it all changed in the mid 1980s.
The economic boom and optimism brought about by Rogernomics, following Labour’s adoption to the letter of the NZ Party’s policies, saw in its wake restaurants spring up everywhere. Eating out regularly became the norm and entertaining at home virtually ceased.
But note this. Over the subsequent 40 years, regardless of the state of the economy, the average life of a New Zealand restaurant has been 18 months. Here’s why.
First, restaurants go in and out of fashion. But there’s a much more significant reason. That is the percentage of the population, perhaps as big as a third, who have an overwhelming urge to be self-employed above any other option.
Opening a restaurant is the ready fallback to that desire, assuming no other skill.
Of course those who have, for example, learnt a trade or profession, be they a plumber, electrician, lawyer or doctor and who have the same self-employment craving, can readily satisfy that impulse.
But for folk with no particular skill training, establishing a restaurant or coffee shop seems the obvious answer.
So don’t read too much into the daily media reporting of restaurant closures. As said, the depressed economy is undoubtably a factor but regardless, it would be happening anyway.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE - where this article was sourced.
The practice then was to eat at home, dinner being virtually an all-day preparation task by the wife/mother of the household. People entertained one another over a home-cooked meal.
That was feasible as once married and starting a family, back then very few such women worked in outside employment, their days being fully preoccupied in household chores.
Then seemingly overnight it all changed in the mid 1980s.
The economic boom and optimism brought about by Rogernomics, following Labour’s adoption to the letter of the NZ Party’s policies, saw in its wake restaurants spring up everywhere. Eating out regularly became the norm and entertaining at home virtually ceased.
But note this. Over the subsequent 40 years, regardless of the state of the economy, the average life of a New Zealand restaurant has been 18 months. Here’s why.
First, restaurants go in and out of fashion. But there’s a much more significant reason. That is the percentage of the population, perhaps as big as a third, who have an overwhelming urge to be self-employed above any other option.
Opening a restaurant is the ready fallback to that desire, assuming no other skill.
Of course those who have, for example, learnt a trade or profession, be they a plumber, electrician, lawyer or doctor and who have the same self-employment craving, can readily satisfy that impulse.
But for folk with no particular skill training, establishing a restaurant or coffee shop seems the obvious answer.
So don’t read too much into the daily media reporting of restaurant closures. As said, the depressed economy is undoubtably a factor but regardless, it would be happening anyway.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE - where this article was sourced.
2 comments:
This is a very accurate description of NZ 45 years ago.
People hosted dinner parties rather than go out to restaurants.
The host would spend days intently studying Des Brittain or Alison Holst cookbooks before committing to a faire.
What restaurants that were around were usually operated by the Breweries and they were not known for being imaginative.
Now the average Kiwi can barely boil an egg.
I am of Bob's generation and like him often reflect on the vast differences over the last 50 years or so, beyond the ken or imagination of many less ancient. In the distant past a few restaurants survived long term by offering square meals at modest price, and patronised by very regulars But today's absurd minimum wage rates (driven by hugely generous welfare payments) have ended those. The self serve chains were ruined by the overweight over eater doggy bag cultures and their half or no price similarly programmed progeny.
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