13/12/2021
Between and Rock and Hard Place – and no Beach!
Seafood shack –Swakopmund
Within 2021, having lost jobs and income – people have had to get innovative as to their earnings. This is what spawned the idea of imitating “pop – up” restaurants in South Africa, being sure it could be a success along the shores of Swakopmund. The concept is not new, however, foreign to Namibia. It’s an “All –you-can-eat” seafood site right on the beach that is to be run for a period of four weeks over the festive season. This temporary site was aimed at alleviating the rush and push of trying to find seating amongst the vacation makers. The Swakopmund Municipal Council was approached were enthusiastic as to the idea, sites were proposed, agreed upon, various submission made and red tape gone through and written authority was given for the go-ahead,
We followed all the rules and due process. We first went to the Wreck surf spot on the beach at the end of Garoeb Street, where only 23 distant upmarket home owners complained, based on various reasons such as noise pollution, and the smell of seafood! (to name a few). They objected and forced the Municipal council to move us. Then we were moved by the council to Pebble Beach at Mile 4 further away.
The Council was very helpful and we have an amazing set up over there, which was much appreciated. We planned our opening with fifty people and started cooking, fires burning and drinks being chilled - and had to send everyone away on the very first day of our opening after moving in a very short time frame, building and recreating everything in a matter of days and long nights. All of a sudden the same lawyer got a got a high court order against the council again that we have to stop operating. The worst part is this was 1.5 hours before our first guests were supposed to arrive, after everything and all the work, we had no choice but to call and cancel our guests and abide the orders.
The older generation does not want the younger generation to succeed or come up with new ideas, which is very sad for Swakopmund. We have over 250 signatures from people in the area and it’s only a temporary pop up structure for 4 weeks. There is a general head scratch as to the objections. Now they want to move us again (THE THIRD TIME) after we missed our opening, to rebuild and restructure everything, we now have to make a way in regards to funding just to move to the worst place in Swakopmund, situated in a hidden view, little parking and one that’s generally known for car boot parties and folks that have had one too many. This is not the image we wish to portray that’s suitable for a family friendly and corporate business clients. We will have to rebuild reorganize restructure and refund the whole Seafood Shack.
Who would be carrying all these moving expenses? Food is going to waste, staff are waiting in anticipation to operate further, and now we remain between a rock and a hard place – without the beach! We have suggested 3 other places or to move 20 meters to the front on Pebble beach - where our present set up is or on the other side next to the yellow bus or on the open space opposite the Wurstbude. The 5 chancellors (only 2 voted) that overrule the Swakopmund council have made a decision that they only give us the worst place even though the council owns the land and are very capable of helping us but chose not to. We have paid a substantial amount of money to rent the council land.
We’ve been shuffled from pillar to post and still we are no way closer to fulfilling our dream and plan. We want the Council to situate us in a spot where it makes sense for both of us and not shy away from the same complainant people or reimburse us for all our expenses and loss of income and make it know that they had the capacity to help but by their own choice chose not to. Due to the response we saw from our fellow Namibians on social media. We are asking the public to comment on our page Seafood Shack Swakopmund as to your suggestions? What do you think of the Seafood Shack concept and idea and would you support such going forward? You can also email us [email protected]
Thanks for the support we have received so far, and endeavor to find a workable solution to provide you all with the best seafood, on a beach.
The Seafood Shack Team
