After Stocklands Mall Merrylands featured on the list of casual or close venues of concern last week, shop proprietors have noticed a huge drop in business.
Zag Seafood owners have taken the drastic step of deciding to remove themselves from the payroll for the next couple of months.
“To me and my brothers the most important thing we can do is keep the staff still employed,” George Marangou said.
“Our business is 80 per cent in fresh seafood sales and 20 per cent in cooked seafood like fish and chips.
“On the fresh side, we’ve lost from 10 to 14 per cent but the cooked seafood is easily down by 90 per cent.”
George says he feels for anyone who just does cooking.
“We’re also doing online deliveries to accommodate customers, however most are great and get in and out of the shop for their fresh fish quickly,” he said.
Also located in Stocklands Mall Merrylands, Khans Curry Delight have been in the area for a long time with the family saying it’s the quietest they’ve ever been.
“Paying full rent next month is really going to hit us, it’s definitely a battle at the moment,” one family member said.
Cafes and coffee shops aren’t faring much better with the Coffee House at Auburn Station, Chow Bella and Bunker 64 in Lidcombe also struggling,
“Everyone’s doing it tough at the moment,” a Bunker 64 spokesperson said.
