We are struggling, no doubt like everyone else is.
- Tracey McArdle
A Warrnambool cafe has lost about 60 per cent of its trade in less than one week, as people stay home during the region's second coronavirus lockdown.
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Dr Tully's Espresso Bar in Gateway Plaza is usually filled with avid coffee drinkers, people catching up over a piece of cake and shoppers stopping for a quick bite to eat.
But in the days since the state government announced a second lockdown in regional Victoria due to a spike in coronavirus cases, the popular cafe has seen a 60 per cent drop in trade.
Owner Tracey McArdle said he first noticed a slight decline in customers when face masks became mandatory on August 3.
"But since Thursday's stage three restrictions came into force again, the plaza has become a ghost town," he said.
"It's been really tough having nobody in the centre and I think the mandatory masks means we also lose people thinking they can't walk around having a sip (of coffee)."
Mr McArdle, who purchased the business with his wife Jayne in February, said the majority of their business was made up of a "sit-down element".
"People like to come in and sit down with a coffee and a cake or a banana bread," he said.
"As soon as you take away the sit-down component, we drop 50 per cent straight way.
"A lot of our customers are also more of the elderly group so I think they're trying to do the right thing by staying home and isolating. We are struggling, no doubt like everyone else is."
Mr McArdle said he believed the second lockdown was "hitting a bit harder" than the one in March.
"The first month of the lockdown last time was very quiet but as time went on, more and more people seemed to venture out," he said.
"It could turn out to be similar but I think stage three has hit a bit harder this time. There are more cases in Portland, Colac and Heywood and I think the general public of Warrnambool are attempting to do the right thing - stay home, isolate and have one final crack at knocking this on its head."
Mr McArdle said he would reassess whether it was viable to stay open in about two-to-three weeks.
"We don't want to close but we just have to play it by ear," he said.
"Our regular customers are thanking us for staying open everyday so here's hoping we can continue that and the lockdown is only for another five weeks."
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