Business taking hit

MANY small and medium-sized businesses are already feeling the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.
Social distancing may help reduce the rate of coronavirus infection, but it also threatens to devastate small businesses yet many contacted by the Inner West Times on Tuesday, say they have barely noticed a difference.
Raine & Horne Bardwell Park’s Peter Georgiou said property clearance rate dropped to the 70s on the weekend but his open house viewings were well supported.
“We had 17 people at one, 20 at another and even eight turning up to see a unit that’s in Roselands,” he said.
“Those figures are very pleasing and make sense; if the stock market is going down, the next best investment is property and with another rate cut on the way, it gives buyers a bit more confidence.”
L J Hooker Earlwood’s George Karafotias agrees.
“We had a good turnout at our open homes on the weekend, even with the weather so it’s a matter of so far, so good,” he said.
However, some cafe owners are taking a hit.
Operators of Take Coffee on Illawarra Road, Marrickville, have been quiet for a couple of weeks.
“There’s no one on the street plus the weather is taking a toll so we’re just taking it day by day but are very concerned,” Phi said.
Nicholas from the Hub House Diner on New Canterbury Road at Hurlstone Park, says he has been busy one day and quiet the next.
“It’s all over the place at the moment and certainly has a newness to it,” he said.
“We were ok at the weekend but extremely quiet the three days before.”
Reporting from the Bunker Cafe in Dulwich Hill, Emma said they hadn’t noticed a reduction in customers but there were certainly a lot more buying their coffee beans in bulk.
“Otherwise, it seems the same,” she said.