Despite seeing revenue fall to almost nothing since the start of the lockdown, one Stockland Shellharbour business owner is angry the company has offered no rent relief.
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Lisa Nelmes has been running the League and Legends store at Shellharbour for nine years - while it has been in the family for 25 years.
Since the lockdown started she moved online, offering a click and collect service where people can pick up orders at the store.
But Ms Nelmes said business had slowed to a crawl, with sales down around 75 per cent last month and almost no money coming in so far in August.
"It's online only but it's not going great," Ms Nelmes said.
"It's very quiet because people can't go to the game or they're not seeing their families for birthday gifts, et cetera."
Virtually the only item that is selling are the NRL face masks, which is not enough to keep the business afloat.
During this time, even though the store is closed, Ms Nelmes said Stockland was still charging the usual rent. She had approached them about lowering it during the lockdown but wasn't pleased with the response.
"They have told us they will not be giving us any reduction in July's rent," Ms Nelmes said.
"They're ignoring my request for August rent reduction even though we're shut.
"They're not trying to help in any way. I've decided I'll probably relocate in January when my lease is up."
She said it had been an extremely stressful time, compounded by the struggle she has had with getting business support from Service NSW.
She said she had spent three weeks chasing them up but had no result.
"We still have bills to pay for the stock that I have in store," she said.
"After 25 years we may have to move to a warehouse and give up on having a shopfront because of the lack of support from shopping centres during a pandemic."
The Mercury contacted Stockland and enquired whether rent assistance had been offered and if it would help to keep paying tenants in their premises rather than seeing them leave during the lockdown.
A spokeswoman did not directly answer those questions, instead replying via the following statement.
"We appreciate the impact ongoing restrictions are having on businesses across the country," the spokeswoman said.
"Our priority is to support our retail partners, particularly small and medium enterprises, to get through this challenging time together.
"We are supporting retailers in NSW and are open to discussions with those impacted by lockdowns, in line with our obligations under the NSW Commercial Code of Conduct."
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
