Next week can't come soon enough for Highlands bakeries as the region prepares to welcome Sydneysiders back with open arms.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Monday November 1 marks the reopening date for Greater Sydney and while travel between some regions has been allowed for a couple of weeks, businesses such as Gumnut Patisserie are looking forward to seeing city tourists back in town.
Speaking to the Southern Highland News, Gumnut co-owner Tracy Nickl said the main Bowral store remained quiet.
"Bowral is still really struggling to be honest," he explained.
"Obviously the fire and closure of the street haven't helped. Our other stores like Mittagong were approaching pre-lockdown levels which we're really happy with and has kept all of us employed and we're very grateful for that.
"Bowral is still ticking along at 50 percent of pre-lockdown revenue but we're expecting that to change dramatically after Monday. Once Sydney is let loose we're expecting to get absolutely smashed."
Despite the difficulties the 2021 lockdown has imposed on the Highlands institution, Nickl said the way his team have stuck together has been essential for Gumnut's survival.
"We hung on to all of our full-time team but we put it to them at the start of lockdown, 'who would like to do four day weeks?' Some opted to do three day weeks.
"It was a logistics challenge but the team has been awesome, really flexible. People have just said 'I'll do whatever it takes to make sure we all survive.'
"Most of the casual team we started back a week ago just to get them ready for what's coming. Most of them are schoolkids so they've had a real crap run of it. Some of them have been really hanging out to get back so it's been really good."
It's a similar story at the famous Robertson Pie Shop with co-owner Will Bleeker only re-opening in mid-October after recording their quietest day in 40 years back in July.
Bleeker said the shop, which relies heavily on Wollongong and South Coast traffic, was preparing to go 'gangbusters' come next week.
"It's not been much better [since reopening]," Bleeker said.
"It's not that busy, we usually have 250 customers a day through the week and we're sitting on 95 now.
"We've told all of our staff to come back on Monday. At the moment we are calling it a soft opening with two girls on and two bakers on. Hopefully it will all go gangbusters!"
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a daily email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.