By Alesha Capone
Business is booming in Werribee’s city centre after months of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, as new traders move into vacant shopfronts and crowds return to the streets.
Wyndham’s future focused economy portfolio holder, Cr Mia Shaw, said 17 new hospitality-based businesses have opened in Werribee’s CBD during the past 12 months.
“This is a fantastic result and a great demonstration of business confidence in Werribee and Wyndham,” Cr Shaw said.
“Despite the pandemic there is strong commercial investment in the Werribee city centre.
“Many businesses have done it tough over the last 12 months, and some unfortunately were not able to recover.
“But COVID showed us how resilient the business owners and people of Wyndham are.”
Cr Shaw said funding from the state government’s Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package has helped the council to deliver safe outdoor dining options for local eateries.
Westend Photography owner Imran Kashem, who is also on the Werribee Business and Tourism Association (WBTA) board, opened a studio in Watton Street at the start of 2021.
The business, the first commercial photography studio in Werribee’s town centre within the past 20 years, is co-located with five other creative and leadership businesses and forms a hub of professional services.
Mr Kashem said that with its many coffee and food offerings, plus the Wyndham Cultural Centre, Watton Street was attracting new traders.
“Compared to when I moved here in January, some of the empty shops are now mostly full,” Mr Kashem said.
The WBTA is also launching a campaign to encourage residents to “buy local”.
“If we grow, we support the local community,” Mr Kashem said.
Anju Bala, who opened Anju Hair & Beauty Unisex Salon on Watton Street during April, said the area offered prominence, plenty of parking and passing pedestrians.
“We set up the salon on Watton Street because it is the main street of Werribee, it’s very busy,” she said.
“We are enjoying it, there is a lot of footpath traffic and we have got lots of new customers through this.”
Mrs Bala said Wyndham council has also been supportive in allowing the salon to erect signs for their business.
