Simo's Deli on Colombo St in Beckenham was just about to undergo a refit when the quake struck on September 4.
Now the buckled and cracked building - which loses bricks with every aftershock - is unsafe to enter.
Ms Sharpe said a recent 5.1 aftershock "finished the building off".
They are also unable to access their upstairs office and unable to rescue new, uninsured appliances that were part of the refit, which was due to begin the Monday after the earthquake.
The couple spent three days in the resort, the first time in two months Mr Abbari was able to sleep properly and stop thinking about quake-related problems.
"Simo slept for 15 hours on and off when we first got here," Ms Sharpe said.
A dozen Queenstown hotels and motels (members of SKAL, an international association of travel and tourism professionals) have donated more than 50 nights of accommodation, while Air New Zealand has given complimentary return flights.
"By taking us far away physically, they took us away mentally - big thanks to SKAL," Mr Abbari said.
The couple had been offered the unemployment benefit, which they both refused, and say more financial aid should be offered to ensure their remaining seven staff can stay in work.
Mr Abbari emigrated from Morocco 17 years ago and said as a taxpayer he was frustrated with the Government.
"The Government hasn't fulfilled its role - small businesses are the heart of the economy," he said.
