To say the owners of Warrnambool eateries are relieved the city has been spared lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic is an understatement.
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Bohemia Cafe owner Steve Hickman said he would be extremely disappointed if he had to go back to only offering takeaways.
"I was extraordinarily relieved regional areas are not going back into lockdown," Mr Hickman said.
He said if a second lockdown was ordered for Warrnambool, it would be devastating.
Mr Hickman said the business would survive, but it would be a bitter blow for some of his staff.
He said a number of them did not apply for JobKeeper because of the length of time they had worked at the cafe.
"I've been saying for four weeks 'why don't they lock Melbourne down?'" Mr Hickman said.
"It should have been done before the school holidays."
Mr Hickman said he was extremely pleased by the support he had received from Warrnambool residents during the restrictions. However, the 20 person limit was a challenge, with many people turned away on weekends.
Macey's Bistro owner Peter 'Cork' Walsh said he was also concerned about what would happen to his staff if there was a second lockdown.
He said when he was only allowed to have the bottleshop opened, he was barely breaking even.
Mr Walsh said he had three rooms, which meant he could seat 60 diners.
"We used to do 2500 meals a week and we're probably doing half of that," he said.
"If we didn't have JobKeeper it wouldn't be worth me opening. You would be opening the doors for nothing."
Mr Walsh said he was disappointed restrictions weren't lifted in regional areas earlier. He said he had been extremely impressed by the conduct of diners, who had all adhered to social distancing requirements without question.
"Warrnambool people have been fantastic," he said.
On Monday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced Melbourne would return to lockdown.
"It's clear we are on the cusp of a second wave - and we cannot let this virus cut through our communities," Mr Andrews said.
He said the lockdown restrictions would be reinstated for six weeks.
"Restaurants and cafes will return to takeaway and delivery services only," Mr Andrews said.
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