Albury's usually bustling main street has become eerily quiet as businesses struggle to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
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People were few and far between on Dean Street on Saturday night with the forced closure of late night venues.
Eateries that have stayed open have reported a sharp downturn in trade - some as much as 90 per cent - as people self isolate.
Many have tried to survive through home deliveries.
Taco Bill part owner Gysella Henry said it was the worst time she had experienced in 33 years in the job.
"It's affected everybody," she said.
"It's been frightening.
"You don't know what day your staff will have to be laid off, which is more upsetting than anything else."
The Mexican restaurant continues to employ 15 people, with three drivers delivering food to homes.
"It's like nothing I've seen in my lifetime," Ms Henry said.
"Nothing is normal any more.
"For now we just keep going."
Saludos has introduced home deliveries but business has dropped by 90 per cent.
Owner Jan Hancock said she was taking things one day at a time.
"Don't look into the future," she said.
"It's just too scary.
"We intend to keep going until the end."
The situation would be helped through rent relief and wage subsidies for workers, Ms Hancock said.
Downtown Pizzeria owner Matt Wehbeh said he was fighting to keep his staff in a job, with six out of 25 employees still working at the business.
"It's really hard to keep going," he said.
"The community is doing a great job supporting us."
Staff are using gloves and sanitiser in a bid to stay safe, but Mr Wehbeh said they had been unable to source face masks.
He would like everything to close for three to five weeks to get on top of the pandemic.
"It's too much stress," he said.
"I'd like to have a definitive answer."
Venues that would normally hold thousands of people on a Saturday night, including the New Albury Hotel and the Commercial Club, have closed indefinitely, and other venues have made drastic changes to ensure they can continue to trade.
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