South Melbourne Market stall owners warn prices could rise if their rents go up
“We never asked about a rent increase, and we understood that,” he said. “[But] quite difficult at the moment.” Zahos admits that the organizers are not putting up his rent during the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 lockdowns and he expects an increase this year. However, he said, after lost revenue due to the pandemic and rising costs due to inflation, the proposed amount was extraordinary. He also declined to disclose the amount. Fresh produce stalls remained open during the lockdown, while other stalls were forced to close. Another stall owner who spoke to Sunday Time did so on the condition of anonymity, fearing it might affect negotiations. One woman, whose rent could increase by about 30 percent, accused the committee of being a bully. “They’re going to basically bankrupt our business … during a recession, during a pandemic,” he said. The woman said she felt pressured to give her financial records. “That is outrageous, disgusting behavior. We were treated like children,” he said. Load