“We’re really fortunate that we have a great ability to be flexible and do takeaway really easily. But we’re so excited to see people come back in and dine and feel confident.
“I think the masks signified people were worried, and the removal of a mask is a bit of a physical sign that actually, we’re doing OK.
“We’ve had people this morning, though, still wearing masks, which we totally understand as well.”
She said communication with the masks on had also been difficult.
“We’ve got a few deaf customers who come in as well and I know that for them that this will be a welcome relief,” Taylor said.
Good Things cafe owner Jake Carter said back in 2020 when WA first went into lockdown, there had been a “state of panic” around what was going to happen to the business.
“Capacity limits affected us, we had to remove tables and spread everything out,” he said.
Good Things, which has cafes in Mosman Park and Fremantle, has already experienced a new energy. Credit:Holly Thompson
“We are really grateful we have been able to operate in some capacity throughout the pandemic in Perth, it was really hard to see what was happening over east with the continuous lockdowns.
“The mental health aspect of things was big for our customers too, not being able to go and get a daily coffee. When you can’t do that, and you can’t have that daily interaction with others, you really realise how much it means to you.”
Good Things gathered a good local following throughout the pandemic, so Carter opened a second store in Fremantle.
Paola Arosi, who works at The Royal, is hopeful life will return to the Perth CBD. Credit:Holly Thompson
He said he hoped that now, with no masks and no capacity limits, the customer base there could continue to grow.
The Perth CBD was one of the most difficult areas for hospitality during the pandemic, with many people choosing to, or needing to work from home.
The Royal owner John Parker said since restrictions had been reintroduced at the end of last year, he had experienced a 40 per cent drop in turnover.
“The city really noticed a huge dropoff and that’s been quite hard, not just financially but emotionally as well,” he said.
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“All of the staff have been struggling with inconsistency of trade, having to wear masks at work, seeing less life and vibrancy in the venue while they work.
“But this easing of restrictions has come around earlier than I anticipated … you can definitely feel an excited energy out there … bookings have already picked up.
“People are excited. Masks are a physical reminder of ‘the C word.’ It’s a bit of a downer on things. It does feel like the right time to start a new chapter.”
