Latest Victoria lockdown serves a new blow for small businesses

Victoria's fourth lockdown is another huge blow for the state's small business owners but this time around JobKeeper is a distant memory.

They're now facing more emotional and financial pain than in previous lockdowns.

Lara Ferraro owns the University Cafe, a restaurant on Melbourne's iconic Lygon Street.

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She told A Current Affair host Leila McKinnon while they knew a lockdown was coming, they're now flat and despondent, but they will keep pushing forward.

She said while it's disappointing, everyone understands the lockdown needs to happen and customers and staff have been supportive.

"Our staff are our family, without our staff we don't have a business … we contact them often just to see if there's anything they need," she said.

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Ms Ferraro said when they close tonight, they will be making up care packages for staff.

"We don't know what more we can do for them. That's the best we can do," she said.

The restaurant owner said the coronavirus numbers are getting out of control so she can see why it's needed.

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"I'd rather a shorter lockdown now than a big one like we had last year for four months. That was horrible," Ms Ferraro said.

"It is what it is."

She said at times it felt like taking one step forward and then 10 steps back.

"But our customers they will be back," she said.

To see what else the business owner had to say, watch the full video above.