For Scottsdale publican Darren Probert, the customers disappeared once coronavirus came to town.
"It was pretty much between 90 and 100 per cent down, because there was no one coming into the restaurant," Mr Probert said.
Trading was still down about 60 per cent in February and the pub has reduced its operating hours.
"If we didn't have to pay the lease on the building, we'd be better off staying closed than paying staff, for what it's costing us."
With the lease due for renewal, Mr Probert and his partner are debating whether they can afford to keep going.
"We've probably got too much invested to just walk away," he said.
"It's not viable. If it's still like this in three months, six months' time, it's really not viable to keep the doors open."
Just north at Bridport, on the coast, it has been a similar experience for Linda Arnison.
Her business The Bridport Cafe was forced to close over the new year period after staff became close contacts.
"That was pretty hard for us, that was a lot of money we didn't make," Ms Arnison said.
"It's one of our busiest weekends, but we missed out on the whole lot this year."
Unlike Scottsdale, Bridport is a seasonal town.
Keeping staff employed means using the summer takings to top up a quiet winter.
But this year, Ms Arnison said the coming months looked "bleak" and cutting staff and opening hours was on the cards.
New outdoor space proves popular
While they struggled with the arrival of coronavirus, Bridport's bricks and mortar businesses were also confronted by the arrival of more competition.
For the first time, a dedicated park on the main street has brought in food van operators from Bridport and across the state together for the summer months.
Owner Allan Barnett said with no new shops built for 30 years despite a growing population, the park will keep the town moving forward.
"The problem always was in Bridport, of evenings, it's a bit hard for families to perhaps get in and get a feed unless you went to the pub," Mr Barnett said.
"We've had so much positive feedback about the place, visitors to the place and campers, they're absolutely loving it to be able to bring their families up here and have a bit of a relax while the kids play in the sandpit and run around."
Far from being impacted by the pandemic, the outdoor seating has been a drawcard.
Mr Barnett said the park had helped bring more visitors to Bridport.
"It's been a huge success, the amount of people has just packed out some weekends, and evenings especially have been really huge," he said.
The park did not need a council permit.
But according to Mayor Greg Howard, it has created tension and could spell the end for some local businesses if it remains.
"When you add a heap of new product into an existing retail market that is already pretty competitive and you don't grow the customer base, then quite clearly everyone's going to have a smaller share of the pie," Mr Howard said.
