The government's first of the three stage approach to relaxing COVID-19 restrictions will come into effect this Friday, May 15.
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It aims to focus on carefully reopening the economy and giving Australians opportunities to return to work and social activities.
Under the first step, cafés and restaurants may open and seat up to 10 patrons at one time, but they will need to maintain social distancing.
It's great news for owners of Dubbo cafés and restaurants who have had to completely evolve their business during COVID-19 restrictions.
When the restrictions commenced, owners of café Alchemy on Victory, Chris and Ngaire Davis decided to keep the business open, selling takeaway food and coffee.
Mr Davis said before COVID-19, Alchemy were mainly known as a seated café serving exclusively breakfast and lunch.
But due to the restrictions they had to 'reinvent themselves" and for the past few weeks have expanded hours and now offer woodfired pizza for lunch and dinner.
"We're now doing really well, and taking deliveries all over Dubbo," Mr Davis said.
The café owner said looking to the future, post-pandemic, it may change the way they do business long-term, by offering both seated and takeaway options and a limited menu.
"It's made us have a look at ourselves and we've suddenly decided that this is a better way of doing it," Mr Davis said.
So far there are currently three bookings at Alchemy this weekend, something that the owner was pleased with.
For the time being, Alchemy will just offer the takeaway menu items.
"We're not going to do table service, we just cannot afford to when you're only allowed to have 10 people sitting here," Mr Davis explained.
The Dubbo businessman said while they are happy with where they are at now and can see an end in sight, it was unfortunate that COVID-19 resulted in a reduction of staff.
"It's evolved us into this takeaway business that we didn't have before and no matter what happens you'd like to think that will continue and people know they can come here and get certain things... and we weren't getting that before," Mr Davis added.
"It's helped the business evolve a bit more."
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