How to support Shire and St George businesses through coronavirus

Housebound? Us too. Here’s how you can help support local businesses and stay well fed, read and entertained while minimising risk during the coronavirus pandemic.

Need coffee? Here’s how to do that. In isolation.

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Local residents and businesses alike can partner to get through the coronavirus pandemic together while staying well fed, red and entertained in isolation.

Here are our top tips for supporting local businesses and keeping busy while you’re socially distancing through COVID-19.

KERBSIDE PICK-UP

Are you working from home this week? You can order ahead at many local cafes including HAM in Cronulla and pick up your coffee without lingering in store and risking unnecessary contact. Introverts, it’s your lucky day. Call HAM on 8521 7219 to order ahead on takeaway food and coffee.

BETTER READ THAN DEAD

Bored yet? (We are.) (Just kidding, we’re writing the news, we’re actually pretty busy right now.) Get busy with some new books from The Best Little Bookshop in Town, or Berkelouw Books Cronulla, both of which remain open for business and all your reading needs. The Best Little Bookshop in Town also has a selection of new books to inspire and uplift readers during these challenging times.

ORDER IN

Want to support your local restaurant? Really craving that crab tagliolini from Salt Meats Cheese? (No? Just us?) Grab dinner from local restaurants all over the Shire and St George via Uber Eats, Deliveroo or direct order rather than dining in to minimise human contact. (We know! It’s bad. But it’s only for a little while.) Uber Eats in particular is handing out $5m in funding to support independent restaurants, while restaurants can also opt in to paid out by Uber Eats daily instead of weekly.

GET CLICKING

You can shop many local businesses online rather than in-store. Amazing, we know! Winter clothes, fresh homewares (if you’re going to be stuck inside and you suddenly have the urge to reinvent the living room), knick knacks and more are all available from locally owned stores such as Roar, Mindful and Co, Meet That Store, Zaliah and Zjoosh in Cronulla.

PLAN AHEAD

Missing nights out at your favourite local restaurants and bars? Buy a voucher. Don’t risk big gatherings fam, it’s not worth it. Instead, buy a voucher at your favourite local businesses and go crazy when the pandemic has calmed down.

SHOP SMALL, SHOP SAFE

Need groceries? (Same.) If you can’t shop online wash your hands, keep to yourself, and make a flying visit to a local grocer, deli, butcher or supermarket to pick up supplies. Don’t linger. Don’t stop for a chat. Go in, get what you need, get out, and get back to your books and Netflix.

Love local business? Connect with us on Facebook and tell us about your favourite shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.