Yesterday, Tracey Ryan opened her Woodlark Street shop, Fashion Profile, after a long few weeks of Covid-19 lockdown.

With the government’s restrictions on what we can do easing this week - and with more smiling people venturing out and about - Tracey’s shop was one of a few that re-opened its doors this week.

Her shop joins The Garden Plate, Jeanette’s Fine Lingerie and Carrington Bazaar in bringing life back to the Lismore CBD through open shop doors and smiling, less-fearful faces.

Positive about fashion future

“I feel positive about what’s happening,” Tracey said. “The government is paying the wages of staff for another couple of months, so we can open up even if we aren’t busy.

“I think what has happened will change the way we survive from now on. Whatever the new normal is, we will be more innovative.”

Tracey said she was selling her summer stock, worth hundreds of dollars, for $30 a-piece, in order to clear out some of her stock.

“I know people are keen to get out shopping again – winter is in the air and people want to buy some winter fashions,” she said.

Fashion shops Etika and Inka and Co on Keen Street are both open this week too.

Inka and Co owner Annette Adams.

Etika is opening with reduced hours and Inka and Co owner Annette Adams said she was seeing more people come into town and knew it was time to reopen, so they could buy winter clothes.

Etika is back in winter business.

Food and funnies on the menu

The Garden Plate on Magellan Street also opened its doors yesterday, and owner Vanessa McMullen said it’s been a long five weeks.

Now, with two of her staff back in the kitchen, the café is not quite running at pre-Covid capacity, but Vanessa said they are all happy to be back at work, instead of being at home with all its challenges – including the challenge of home schooling.

The sign board out the front of the Garden Plate is also back in a prominent position - with the latest of funny and pertinent sayings displayed – as chosen personally by the café staff.

Funny signs are back at the Garden Plate.



“People walk by and snigger at what we put on it,” Vanessa said. “I think people can relate to it – they are going through it as much as we are.”

The Mecca Café on Magellan Street opened its doors last week, and owner Kelly McLean said the café will be opening nights soon.

“We hope to get back to the original pre-Covid menu soon and plan to open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 8pm,” Kelly said. “We will also open this Sunday for Mothers’ Day."

The Garden Plate staff still smiling.

Cinema of music

Living Entertainment has been slowly increasing its opening hours and owner Nat said he was using the quiet time to prepare the shop for opening an in house cinema.

“We are slowly bouncing back and have been selling equipment online,” Nat Dobby said.

“We are also building a small cinema out the back with Dolby surround sound so we can use it to show people what our home cinema sound systems are like.

“We expect we’ll be ready to open it in about six months.”

Nat Dobby at Living Entertainment.

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