Croydon, Ringwood East, Heathmont shopping strips hope coronavirus restrictions lift
Struggling shopping strip traders across Melbourne’s east hope to hear good news from Daniel Andrews regarding easing coronavirus restrictions on Monday. But it’s already too late for at least one business.
Outer East
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Shopping strips in Melbourne’s outer east are praying for coronavirus restrictions to be loosened to give their businesses a much-needed sales boost.
The State Government’s stage 3 restrictions will be reconsidered on Monday and there is no doubting what traders want.
At the Heathmont Village shopping strip it’s already too late for one business, with the franchisee of the Subway restaurant opting not to renew its lease.
Maroondah Leader also understands the restaurant had endured up to four break-ins in recent years.
But one of the strip’s cafes, The Village Food Store, has reopened this week with new owners, while the Milk and Wine Co has also drawn interest from shoppers after it opened in the old home of Barclays Cafe in late March.
Anton’s Fresh Grocery manager Nick Ghuman said while starting a home delivery service for locals had kept his business afloat, he was only allowed two customers in the store at a time.
Mr Ghuman said allowing more people in stores would generate more activity and increased trade at the strip.
“During the tough time, the ones that have been allowed to open have stayed open,” he said.
“Safety always comes first, but (if restrictions are lifted) lots of people will have more confidence to come in, and that will give us a boost.”
Ringwood East traders near the suburb’s railway station are also urging locals to return if restrictions are lifted.
Traders group spokesman Stuart Grieg said up to 14 shops remained closed, with cafes and restaurants, clothing boutiques and hairdressers all struggling.
Mr Greig, who is board chairman of Ringwood East’s Bendigo Bank branch, said it also had to restrict its teller services and install in-store customer limits.
“Everyone’s hoping that come Monday, life gets back to normal in some form and patrons are coming back,” he said.
“We’ll be trying to ramp up our social media posts to get back and support local business as much as they can.”
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Traders group president Arthur Corcoris, of Paul’s Supa IGA, said the virus outbreak had turned more customers towards online shopping and led to lower numbers in stores.
“Lots of customers are ordering from home and not leaving their household,” he said.
“If the restrictions are dropped, we will find a lot more people coming to the strip and the restaurants they are missing.”
In Croydon, Main Street Traders Association president Andrew King said foot traffic had been noticeably down despite most of its services still operating in some capacity.
Mr King said he was confident speciality stores would bounce back if the restrictions were lifted.
“The street hasn’t been totally locked down but I think it will bring a boost and people will feel that confidence again,” he said.
“People will feel more confident shopping in fresh air rather than inside a shopping centre, and we think the main street shopping idea will become more attractive because of such events we’ve been going through.”