Cobbler Rd owners Haley and Mick Vietch said Baylis Street had looked like a "ghost town" for the better part of six weeks, but had noticed considerably more activity in the last week.

"When you can't get a parking space, that's how you know it's busy," Mrs Vietch said.

Her shop had remained open throughout lockdown, and Mrs Vietch said that in the last week or so was when sales really began to pick up again.

"It was very scary in the beginning because everything changed on a daily basis, especially for small businesses," Mrs Vietch said.

"Our landlords have been really, really good, so we've been lucky. Not everyone else has been so lucky."

All Things Country manager Talayaa Dodds said the pandemic had taken a toll on the shop, which ordinarily relies on events such as field days, campdrafts, and stockman's challenges throughout the year.

With events being cancelled across the board, Ms Dodds said the shop had taken a "big hit" to its bottom line.

However Ms Dodds said there had been some encouraging signs in the past few weeks, with more customers coming through her doors every time restrictions lift.

"Other shops are open, so more people are coming down," Ms Dodds said.

"As time's gone on it's getting better and you can see people walking around again."

Wagga Business Chamber director Rhyley Hunter said he was buoyed to see more people out and supporting local businesses, and he urged shoppers to keep their money in Wagga.

"We have definitely seen an increase in people getting out and about and it seems as though they are willing to spend some money, which is great," Mr Hunter said.

"There is still uncertainty in the market but hopefully, the positive pattern of returning to normalcy continues and we all recover as quickly as possible."