Mildura businesses welcome back customers as regional Victoria restrictions ease
Visitors to the Mildura CBD grappled with finding a car park for the first time in weeks, as cafes and restaurants welcomed back regulars for sit-down dining.
Mildura
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Mildura embraced the first day of eased restrictions, with cafes and restaurants welcoming back customers for sit-down dining.
As the day progressed, it became increasingly difficult to find a car park in the centre of Mildura’s CBD, a phenomenon not seen for weeks.
From midnight, hospitality businesses in regional Victoria were allowed to cater for 10 diners in an indoor space and up to 50 socially-distanced customers outside.
Regional Victorians were also no longer restricted to four reasons for leaving their home.
The changes meant businesses in and out of the hospitality sector noticed more foot traffic about town.
Zambrero Mildura proprietor Adrian Morris, who was able to set out tables and chairs inside and outside, said the effect for his business was “instant”.
“People are in town, out and about, coming to get food and enjoying the ability to sit down and enjoy it instead of having to eat it on the run,” Mr Morris said.
“It was just a better atmosphere, a better feeling, a better vibe.”
Not long after cafes put tables and chairs out, their regulars were back.
Coffee Town Cafe owner Trudi Dunbar said after using recent weeks to paint and renovate, she and husband Gavin were happy to throw open their doors.
“We had people sit-in straight away at 6am to have breakfast,” she said.
Ms Dunbar was looking forward to the start of the school holiday period, which usually brings more people out.
She said the cafe had been able to keep all its staff this year, but was now able to roster on more hours.
Kaffenio manager Chris Kimerlis said his Mildura CBD cafe had welcomed back its usual early morning crowd of “the blockies, the electricians, the plumbers” for sit-down meals.
“It’s just completely different,” he said.
“Usually they get something small and go, this time they can actually have a meal.”
Mr Kimerlis said the reopening meant more staff were working.
In Red Cliffs, Good Golly manager Bethany Scholar said while the initial hour of opening had been quiet, bookings had surged after the announcement customers could sit down again.
Ms Scholar said the rules easing meant “everything to us”, with regional Victorians previously only having four reasons to leave home, limiting movement between towns.
“We’re a not-for-profit business, so we’re small and locally owned, so it was just very quiet out here,” she said.
Mocha Mecca Mildura City owner Stuart Garsed said customers were happy to be back inside.
Last time restrictions were eased his cafe was allowed to seat 20 people inside.
While the limit of 10 this time was frustrating, Mr Garsed said it was better than nothing.
Retailers also noticed the increase in people out and about.
Sportspower Mildura manager Adam Thomson said the carparking spaces near his store were close to full.
The easing of restrictions led to an announcement this week that Sunraysia’s cricket season would go ahead for both seniors and juniors.
Mr Thomson said he expected there would be a strong desire for people to be involved with team sport again.
“Hopefully there will be a few more having a hit and a few people who were going to retire might keep playing,” he said.
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