Coronavirus Adelaide: 10 Salisbury traders close amid pandemic according to Salisbury Business Association
Nearly a dozen local stores have closed permanently because of COVID-19 in the Salisbury area, and existing retailers face “very tough times” ahead.
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The Salisbury Business Association has praised the resilience of local traders amid the COVID-19 pandemic but is fearful “very tough times” are likely without a pre-Christmas surge in spending.
Association executive officer David Waylen said the Salisbury city centre’s 350 small to medium businesses were “still trying to get back on their feet” after a “horrendous” March to June period.
He said 10 businesses closed their doors permanently since the pandemic struck, including Flight Centre Salisbury, PN Bakery and Gametraders.
Gorgeous Eyebrows, Massive Joes Parabanks, Relaxation Massage, Taha Flight Centre and Heroes Haven were among the other stores to shut.
He expected to see more hardship in the October to December quarter with JobKeeper reduced, $10,000 State Government grants spent, landlord rent assistance ending and retail spending “still slow”.
“Many of these businesses have to make up lost revenue from March to July, which means they truly need to be at like 130 per cent capacity – a big ask for any business,” Mr Waylen said.
“We will start to see some leases terminated for rent … some many thousands behind in payments.
“Landlords have struggled too with rent reductions and non-payment of rent, where they still have financial obligations to meet as well.”
Mr Waylen said the final quarter of 2020, and the first of 2021, were going to be “difficult times” without a surge in spending.
“If we don’t see a strong retail spend in the lead up to Christmas and activities like work Christmas functions returning to our local venues, it’s going to be very tough times ahead,” he said.
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However, he said the city centre had been “relatively lucky” in comparison to other shopping precincts following a rough few months.
“With the majority of our businesses being small operators or SA or national chain stores the impact was not as great as it could have been, thank god,” he said.
He estimated the city centre was currently operating at about 80 per cent capacity, with Hoyts only operating at 50 per cent and patron restrictions in place for hospitality venues.
“Each month that goes by that doesn’t see them operating at capacity is another month of grief,” he said.
Mr Waylen said the hardest hit were food and hospitality businesses which could only rely on deliveries and takeaways with no on-site dining.