WHILE most Shoalhaven residents had ordered their hams, turkeys and poultry in advance – by the time Christmas Eve rolled around there was one thing on everyone’s mind – seafood.
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Nowra Fresh Fish and Meat Market part owner Brad Banks said staff opened their doors at 5am on Christmas Eve to an already full car park.
“We had roughly 2,100 customers come through the doors on Monday and around 3,200 customers today,” Mr Banks said on Tuesday.
Mr Banks said the store had sold 2,400 half hams in the lead up to Christmas, but seafood was the hot item on everyone’s shopping list come Christmas week.
“By the close of business we’ll have sold nine to 10 tonnes of prawns, 600 kilograms of lobster, more than 500 kilograms of Balmain bugs and 6,500 dozen oysters,” he said on Tuesday.
The Fresh Fruit Market across the car park also had long lines of people stocking up on fruit and veg.
Shoalhaven Business Chamber general manager Jennifer Stewart said the CBD has experienced a “shopping frenzy” with people buying last minute gifts, stocking up on food and the cafés were buzzing.
“Parking is horrific at the moment and the streets are very busy,” Ms Stewart said.
“You can see that people are making the most of this time before Christmas.”
