Jack Hudson

LOCAL businesses were left blindsided by the sudden lockdown across South Australia due to the COVID-19 outbreak mid-last week.

Small retail stores were hit with a lack of trade, but hospitality businesses like popular Gawler restaurant The Java Hut were left with stock to throw out and no trade for what was expected to be six days.

Fortunately, the state was able to re-open early, with restrictions lifted from Sunday.

The Java Hut co-owner Donna Wright said it came as a ‘huge shock’ initially.

“We had just prepped up quite a lot of stock, we had to dump it or give it to staff to take home – what else do you do with it?” she said.

“It was a real pain in the butt, and all of a sudden we open up after three days.

“It’s a double-edged sword, we’re very grateful, but then the next thing is I’ve got no stock on a Sunday and where can you get it from, so we were scrambling.

“I am grateful it was only three days and not six, because that hurts a heap.”

The Java Hut resumed trade on Sunday, but it was a frantic rush to bring in stock.

“We did alright for how many we were allowed to have in, which was halved from usual,” Ms Wright said.

“We can’t do the capacity that we’re used to doing, but very grateful for the people that did come in.

“It helps pay the wages and things like that.

“We do have a great support base with our customers, they’re awesome.”