On the ground: this is how Melbourne CBD retail is faring 16 December 2020 After months in lockdown, the return to retail in the CBD is proving to be a challenge. While we are excited to be opening our doors again at Fluevog, but we are definitely opening them to a new landscape in terms of Melbourne CBD retail. Once known as the best city for shopping, we are still something of a ghost town in post-COVID lockdown. Since reopening, it has been a slow start to say the least – while we are generally seeing an increase in traffic, it is still very unpredictable and there is still a feeling of uncertainty in the air.