Popular North Wollongong cafe Diggies is facing months of uncertainty and the temporary closure of its kiosk, amid drawn-out negotiations with Wollongong City Council over renovation works.
After numerous delays over the past 18 months, Diggies owner Aaron Crinis has been told the adjoining North Kiosk will need to shut for 12 weeks this winter to fix structural issues, roof problems and rotting windows in the council-owned heritage building.
While the adjoining cafe will be able to stay open, the operators are worried about the effect the construction works will have on their winter trade. To help them cope, Diggies operators have asked the council to allow a temporary kiosk to be installed.
Mr Crinis said the temporary kiosk would help maintain trade and keep staff employed, but he called for a commitment from the council that the works will be done in a set time frame. He noted that casual staff faced fewer shifts if trade dropped, and full-time staff and apprentices would have reduced kitchen capacity.
A council spokesman said construction was scheduled to begin in early May, but this was subject to a vote from councillors at the next council meeting. The spokesman added that the council would consider compensation related to the building lease if there was a delay in the works.
