BENDIGO businesses have had a busy weekend after capacity limits were removed last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cafes and restaurants across the city saw their tables booking up quickly as locals tried to get out and about.
Nude Food Breakfast Bar and Get Naked Espresso Bar co-owner Hayley Cakebread said they operated both businesses with almost a full house on Saturday and Sunday.
"Thankfully our space allows for lots of diners and greater flexibility for walk ins as well as bookings," she said.
"It was great to be able to open up lots of extra tables with the announcement.
"We had the original date of the November 24 in mind for our capacity restrictions being lifted and we were overjoyed when we found out it had been brought forward."
After being identified as a COVID-19 exposure site last month, Ms Cakebread said she was keen to see their businesses get back on track.
"It feels like we now have a clear run at our trade and overall business goals," she said.
Other stories:
"Since taking on the café in May, there has always been lingering lockdowns and capacity restrictions which made it difficult to make exciting changes to our customers dining experience.
"We are really pleased of the recent changes to exposure site listings and processes that now ensure businesses and the public are far less impacted."
The National Hotel Complex co-owner John Russell said staff were happy to see locals out and about again.
"It's fantastic and nice to get some positive news after the last few months we've had," he said.
"It's been a relief especially after our COVID-19 exposure back in October."
Ms Cakebread said staff were disappointed masks had been removed for customers but not them.
"We were disappointed by this because our team have now worked with masks for almost two years," she said.
"It makes it so difficult to communicate with customers effectively and we desperately miss this.
"We are hoping this last restriction will be lifted soon."
Bendigo businesses were keen to keep the momentum going as Christmas and other major events draw closer.
"We are really looking forward to seeing the potential in both Get Naked Espresso Bar and Nude Food Breakfast Bar, in a post-COVID environment," Ms Cakebread said.
"It is our hope that Bendigo businesses will bounce back from what has been a horrible time and really benefit from upcoming events like Elvis and the Easter festivities."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News