The coronavirus crowd bans are already starting to affect Cessnock businesses, with the hospitality, events and entertainment sectors among those impacted.
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Cafe Williams & Co at Cessnock Tennis Club was preparing to cater for 400 people each day last weekend when the club was meant to host a NSW junior teams tournament.
But the tournament was cancelled late on Friday night after Tennis Australia announced it was postponing all sanctioned events, meaning the cafe was left with a large oversupply of food for the weekend.
The cafe only opened two weeks ago, and fearing it may be "make or break", owner Robert Williams put a call out on social media about its "Help Keep The Doors Open" sandwich special.
"The community really stepped up over the weekend, we have recouped enough to keep going," Mr Williams said.
"But I can confidently say that if the community hadn't stepped up, we wouldn't be open by the end of this week.
"While we had expected 400 people each day, what we got was about 200 locals who will hopefully continue to come back. That's the silver lining."
Another positive to come out of this weekend's trade was an agreement with Hunter Hands of Hope, which came about after a customer bought 30 sandwiches to donate to the charity (which is also located at the tennis club, at the former caretaker's cottage).
Customers can now buy a sandwich to donate to the homeless support service, and can even order the donation via the cafe's website.
"'We have committed to Hunter Hands of Hope, and as long as we're open we'll offer that to them," Mr Williams said.
Mr Williams said the community's support was "really heartwarming".
"It keeps the fire inside to keep going and focus on what we set out to do, which was create something for the community," he said, adding that as soon as the "craziness" of the coronavirus settles down, their focus will be on community activities like market days with Club Evolve.
Mr Williams - who also works in the events and entertainment industry - said many local restaurants and function centres were reporting cancellations due to fears of coronavirus.
He urged Cessnock residents to support local businesses as much as they can.
"A lot of shop owners - cafes and retail - are doing it tough, but are hesitant to admit it," he said.
"It's the people who are trying to make a living that are putting themselves at risk."
Cessnock Chamber of Commerce president Clint Ekert agreed: "Now more than ever it's so important to keep our spending in town," he said.
"Our local shops need your support. Quite simply, use it or lose it!"
Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
