Culcairn retailers thrilled to welcome back customers but need visitors to thrive

Ms Zanker manages vintage shop Curiouser n Curiouser in the town and was delighted to see customers for the first time in almost a month on the weekend.

"It was fabulous to welcome customers back and some were walking past to stick their head in and say how great it was to see us open again," she said.

"We opened on Saturday for the first time in weeks and I was happy people were coming in and connecting again."

Ms Zanker knows she's fortunate still to be trading and believes small stores like hers can bounce back if there's a clear run without further restrictions.

However, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said last week upon the release of the Riverina from stay at home orders that if an active case appears in the community the area will go back into lockdown for 14 days.

"It's the saying make hay while the sun shines because we don't know how many days we've got. I'm here today but I can't guarantee tomorrow. It's one day at a time," Ms Zanker said.

"So many little op shops and these types of shops have disappeared."

"If you've had to keep paying your rent through the lockdown, so many wouldn't have been able to do that.

"It's about staying positive, not losing hope, not losing joy and we'll get through this."

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A reduction in traffic through the town caused by lockdowns and the cancellation of major events such as Henty Field Days for a second straight year has provided a challenge of its own.

"I miss the grey nomads coming through as they go to the bakery and come here," Ms Zanker added.

"Some of them say they stop at the shop every year on the way up and back and would always spend up."

Clothing and homewares store Hub n Hive reopened a week before lockdown ended due to the fact it stocks hardware and stationary items, which provided somewhat of a reprieve for owner Jo Wilksch.

"It was more or less pointless, but I had a lot of locals come in and say they were glad we were open for those items so they didn't have to go all the way into Albury," she said.

"The lockdown really knocked us, so we're very excited to be open again.

"We were already really struggling when the Victorian border was closed because we have a lot of travellers come through, so I hope we'll stay open now."

Mrs Wilksch has had the business since 2002, but changed the style from a bargain basement store to focus more on clothing three years ago.

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