By Danielle Kutchel and Mitchell Clarke
Retailers, restaurateurs and cafe owners from across Casey have thrown open their doors once more as restrictions ease and shoppers take their first few steps out of lockdown.
From Wednesday 28 October, long-starved hospitality venues can welcome 20 customers indoors and up to 50 people outdoors, provided density limits are met.
The State Government last week announced planning exemptions would be put in place to allow venues to capitalise on open spaces including streets, footpaths and carparks to increase outdoor venue capacity.
But that option is unsustainable for many, according to Liberal Gembrook MP Brad Battin, who said it was “just the beginning” of a long recovery for small businesses.
“While hospitality welcomes the ability to have sit down dining once again, many small cafes and restaurants in Casey and Cardinia will struggle to find space to host outdoor dining.
“Unlike the city, we are unable to close High Street Berwick or the Princes Highway in Beaconsfield to allow outdoor dining spaces, leaving suburban eateries with minimal sit-down dining options.
“This is just the beginning of the long recovery our small businesses in Casey and Cardinia and we must ensure restrictions continue to ease for Victorian industries as soon as health advice allows to ensure more jobs and businesses are not lost.”
Peter, owner of Berwick’s Cafe Revival said his cafe would be able to host 10 diners inside and 20 outside.
The bar will be open on Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings to accommodate customers.
“We have to do whatever we have to do,” he said.
“We’ve been operating out of our coffee window and we’re still able to do takeaway … we’ve operated the whole way through.
“It probably won’t make much of a difference to me, only 10 people in, but we’ll have to see how the bar goes.”
Comic book retailer Secret Headquarters in Beaconsfield has been a hive of activity as owner Kirsty got the shop ready for its first walk-in customers in months.
“I’m very excited, I can’t wait to see customers again and get it all happening!” she said.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed, it’s been close to 12 weeks and we’ve gotten into a rhythm with our online store. Trying to blend the two has me a bit overwhelmed, but it should be good.”
A bit of extra time before reopening would have been welcome, she added, to mentally prepare herself for the rush – but she’s glad to be reopening and is planning on celebrating with special deals on back issues and free Halloween comics with purchases to say thankyou to the customers who supported her over the uncertainty of lockdown.
“It’s one step back to semi-normal,” she said.
Lash Envy in Berwick opened just this year and has had a tough time: they opened three weeks prior to the March lockdown before having to shut down, then reopened for five weeks before Melbourne went into stage four.
“It’s not what you expect when you open a business!” said manager Olivia.
Their waiting list is huge; the business is booked out this week and almost booked up for the next fortnight.
The changing reopening dates made it tricky to book appointments in advance, so Olivia and her team tried to get their preparation done last week just in case the reopening was brought forward.
Intensive cleaning and hygiene practises including temperature testing will ensure customers are safe during their procedures.
Berwick and Beaconsfield Chamber of Commerce president Tammy Lobato said many small businesses would be feeling very relieved.
She said the Chamber welcomed the Premier’s announcement to enable businesses to reopen again.
“While we are excited to be able to again do what we love – providing service to our customers – we acknowledge that for many, more hard work and challenges lay ahead just to stay afloat and for others it means literally not being able to reopen due to the hardship experienced during the last six months,” Ms Lobato said.
“The Chamber, along with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce continues to provide support, information and advocacy to our businesses at this very difficult time in business recovery.”
As shoppers return to the major retail centres, centre owners are rolling out safety procedures to keep customers Covid-safe.
Grant Kelley, CEO of Vicinity Centres, which owns Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre, said: “Safety remains our top priority and we’ve been working hard, alongside our retailers, to get our Melbourne centres ready for the reopening of retail with thorough Covid Safe Plans in place utilising new technologies.”
This includes a digital queuing system to help manage capacity and reduce congestion.
Customers can visit the centre website and pre-book their shopping time, or use a QR code in-centre to join a virtual queue rather than lining up in person.
Vicinity centre websites will soon have real-time and forecasted visitation numbers displayed in another effort to help customers plan their shop.
At both Cranbourne Park and Casey Central Shopping Centres, a special team of staff will remind customers to socially distance, wear masks and use hand sanitiser.
Casey Central’s centre manager, Louise Hurley said the facility was “delighted” to welcome the community back in.
“Our centre is home to many small and local businesses who have been doing it tough over the past months.
“We have worked with retailers to ensure that they are executing their Covid management plans, our cleaning and sanitisation remains top priority and over the coming weeks we will have a team Covid Marshalls throughout the mall to assist Casey Central customers to shop within government restrictions, including wearing of fitted masks and practicing social distancing.”
Stores at Fountain Gate have also reopened in line with government restrictions.
