Vologda restaurateurs asked the governor to cancel QR codes

The conversation with the participation of several dozen businessmen of the region took place in the Vereshchagin restaurant. Let us recall that earlier in the Vologda Oblast it was decided to introduce QR codes from October 9 when visiting mass establishments, including culture and catering. Governor Oleg Kuvshinnikov then decided to postpone this measure until 1 November.

“There was a meeting under the protocol. It can be said that this will finish off catering, cinemas and entertainment. And so the whole business is under restrictions. They were just taken out of theaters, now again. They have been partially removed from restaurants since March, and now codes are being introduced. We are monitoring the situation in other regions where these codes have been introduced. For example, cafes and restaurants are already empty in Kazan. And no one canceled utility bills, workers will immediately leave as soon as there is a loss of revenue and a drop in wages. Restaurants and catering in general have become a high-risk business. There are not enough workers everywhere. And landlords are also not ready to reduce the rent. It was then that everyone agreed. Now the situation is stalemate. And partial support measures will not save her,” Igor Istomin, chairman of the Cherepovets branch of the OPORA Rossii organization, told the RBC Vologda portal.

Among other things, the business has another problem - loans. Many took them during the first period of the pandemic on preferential terms (at 3% per annum), now the grace period is ending, and it is necessary to transfer them to commercial ones, at 11-14%.

“The introduction of QR codes is deadly for other areas of business as well. And in terms of catering, the position of restaurateurs is the same - this will lead to the death of their enterprises. Yes, we can still hold out for a week. But then - everything. This is not about lost profits, but about survival. There will be no revenue. The experience of other regions confirms all our fears. Decrease in revenue of restaurants - 80-90%. The complete confusion is how to take into account these QR codes, check their compliance. People are mean to each other. Huge queues are forming at the entrances to buildings," Dmitry Monakhov, HEAD of the Cherepovets branch of the Business RUSSIA organization, told RBC Vologda.

Oleg Barinsky, the owner of the Morsen restaurant chain, explained to RBC Vologda that restaurants in the regions where QR codes were introduced simply do not have customers.