Now that fully vaccinated residents can roam the shops once again, Main Street shop owners are excited to welcome them back with open doors.
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Intimate Dreams owner Glenda Anthes said that currently residents still seemed scared to be going shopping.
"People are still not coming, it is very quiet but I'm sure in time it will pick up but it is important coming out of lockdown that residents choose to spend local," she said.
Ms Anthes said that sometimes residents seem to think if they can't get an item at the Plaza than they can't get it in Lithgow.
"You have to come and walk the Main Street and take a look around first, because we have so much to offer, yes it is sad to see empty shop fronts but we are getting new businesses, we just got a new dress shop and bike shop," she said.
Ms Anthes has been working in the Main Street for nearly 15 years yet she still hears the same thing, 'Oh I didn't know there was a bra store in Lithgow'.
"If people don't look at the news, radio, paper or social media, they just don't realise what Lithgow has to offer," she said.
"Back in the day residents would get dressed up and spend their Thursday, Friday and Saturday doing their shopping. They would use it as a chance to be social and go out.
"There used to be a band in the street, sometimes it was the Scots Band and other times the City band would play out on the street, that was really great but just doesn't happen anymore."
One of the reasons Ms Anthes believes it is important to support local, is because of the knowledge that the business owners have.
"I've had people come in and say their bra doesn't fit or they travel to Big W every month for a new one, so every month they are spending out of town and travelling out of town for products they could get here," she said.
"You have to support local business, and I don't know the answer on how to get people to shop local."
One way locals can spend locally is by purchasing a Shop Local gift card.
"It is great, we stock them, and another local business bought some as a gift for an employee, which is great because it means the money stays in town," she said.
You can purchase one of these gift cards at the following retailers:
- Erin's Quality Outdoor Power Centre
- Lithgow Technology Services
- Euphoric Utopia Cleaning
- Lithgow Visitor Info Centre
- Intimate Dreams
- Portland Newsagency
You can spend the gift card at the following stores:
- BWS
- Blooms The Chemist
- Erin's Quality Outdoor Power Centre
- Intimate Dreams
- Lithgow Prime Meats
- Lithgow Visitor Info Centre
- Mint Brew Coffee
- Portland Newsagency
- Rockstar
- The Blue Fox
- Tin shed
- Bespoke
- Bouquets by Design
- Euphoric Utopia Cleaning
- Lithgow Locksmiths
- Lithgow Restorations
- Logan Signs
- Naturally by Nature
- Prouds Jewellers
- Signature Fashions
- The Main Dry Cleaner
- Vanilla Cafe
- Bianca Villa
- Easy View Blinds
- Gang Gang Gallery
- Lithgow Palace Chinese Restaurant
- Lithgow Technology Services
- Marcus & Co
- O'Neila's Place
- R & K Gas and Camping
- Silhouette Beauty
- The Natural Health Spot
- Wild Flower Co
Ms Anthes said that a lot of businesses won't make it out of this lockdown.
"The Government gave us one off payments but for those that pay rent, it just won't be enough for them to survive," she said.
"You can't blame Council either, it isn't council's fault, they have done all they can but they aren't running these businesses.
"If you want to put your name up for Council, do so, it isn't easy and our council isn't perfect but they are doing the best they can with the money they've got."
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Ms Anthes said it was also important to try and hire local young people.
"We need people to want to stay in town and have these employment opportunities," she said.
"It's nice to come to work every day and chat with locals and have them show their support.
"There are some things you can't get but there isn't much you can't get in Lithgow, so shop local, buy the gift cards and don't assume you can't get anything, look around, ask the businesses and support them."
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