Billy’s makes shift to takeaway only

Billy’s, a family-run cafe in Harvey, has joined the long list of businesses forced to do a complete 180 in a new adapt or die trading reality.

The small cafe in the heart of Uduc Road has now moved to takeaway meals under the new Federal Government’s restrictions.

Cafe owner May Littlejohn said she had made changes to the menu in the switch from dining-in to takeaway only.

However, she was more concerned about her regulars whose mental health may suffer in this new solitary confinement period.

“I am worried about our oldies who used to come to the cafe to socialise,” Mrs Littlejohn said.

“I wonder if they are going to be OK in this isolation period, I really do.”

The Harvey resident said her mother and grandmother both worked with her at the cafe. However, her grandmother had not been at work in a while because she suffered from leukaemia and could not risk being exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

She said her cafe was too small to have any more employees but that meant she did not have to let anyone go in this difficult time.

Mrs Littlejohn said the cafe was close to her heart.

Billy’s is named after her husband’s dad, Bill Littlejohn, who was a popular Yarloop resident.

“He passed away five years ago so we decided to name the cafe after him,” she said.

Mrs Littlejohn said she was worried for her business and the other local cafes.

“We would close if it meant the other cafes could stay open,” she said.

“They have staff to pay — chefs and waitresses who have been there for years.”

Mrs Littlejohn said she was trying to keep positive despite the rapid changes crumbling the hospitality industry.