Eat local, shop local, support local

By Makayla Muscat

With Covid-19 restrictions now easing for most people, Blue Mountains businesses are encouraging residents to continue spending locally.

Lawson Pizza and Kebab are a family owned and operated business that first opened in the Blue Mountains almost 7 years ago. Business partner Mo says his family are grateful that locals have continued to support them throughout the pandemic. “I think Katoomba is suffering from the lack of tourism, but here in the mid-mountains the locals keep us going. They keep our business alive,” he says. “Without them, we probably wouldn’t have made it through the Corona time.”

Lawson Pizza and Kebab opened in the Blue Mountains almost 7 years ago. Photos: Makayla Muscat.

According to Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, there is a massive amount of support needed to get the local economy thriving again. She believes that the tourism and hospitality sector in the Blue Mountains must be a key area of community development, as well as supporting small businesses to reopen without creating a division between the vaccinated and unvaccinated people in the community. “I think we’re all focused on getting back to some normality, while recognising that Covid is still going to be around,” she says.

The NSW government’s roadmap to reopening hopes to get local economies buzzing again by allowing businesses to safely reopen as the state reaches its vaccination targets. Additionally, giving residents Dine and Discover vouchers is part of a plan to encourage people to support the industries that have been devastated by the lockdown.

According to Mo, sales decreased following the outbreak of the Delta strain. He says that while deliveries significantly increased during lockdown, he hopes that customers will also feel reassured coming instore knowing that all staff will be fully vaccinated by the end of the year.

Small, local businesses contribute enormously to the economy, but over the past year one in five businesses have had to either close temporarily or reduce staff. “People should definitely support local businesses,” Mo says. “A lot of our staff are from the area. Also, big companies have been around for a long time, whereas small businesses are just trying to make a little bit of money and support the locals.

This article was previously published by Blue Mountains Australia.