Gold Coast businesses expected to be rushed off their feet during the Commonwealth Games as the rare event overlapped with Queensland school holidays, instead their trade has dropped dramatically and cafe owners are demanding explanations.

While some areas did enjoy a small resurgence in business on Saturday, other parts of the Gold Coast continued to struggle on with only a trickle of customers.

Cafe on Bayview in Runaway Bay at lunchtime on Saturday.

Cafe on Bayview owner Serge Lavroff said he has suffered "at least a 35 per cent drop" in trade during the past week and sent half of his staff home on Saturday for a lack of customers.

He described the past week as "abysmal" and was contemplating closing next week, with locals having told him they would flee the Gold Coast during the Games.