IT'S always of interest, but it will be particularly fascinating to see which new businesses open their doors in Bathurst in 2021.
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The investment - financial, emotional, in time - is substantial in any normal year, but the stakes have been raised significantly since the coronavirus took a blunt instrument to the economy.
The shift to online shopping has been accelerated, while the changing health advice and fluctuating virus status have eaten away at people's confidence to be in big crowds in our commercial centre - and to open their wallets for substantial purchases.
On the other hand, however, COVID-19 has kept a lot of us within the Bathurst city limits when we might otherwise have travelled to Sydney, or the coast, or even overseas, so it could be argued that some of our spending has stayed here as a result.
It would be tempting to imagine no-one would be willing to open their doors on a new operation amid all this uncertainty, but we've already seen that's not the case.
Queensland discount chain Silly Solly's has declared its intention to take up a tenancy at Bathurst Chase in the first few months of 2021, while a Cheesecake Shop franchise in William Street and an organic bakery at Tremain's Mill were two businesses that opened as 2020 wound down.
So who will be following them this year?
The redeveloped Westpoint Shopping Centre at Windradyne is still looking for tenants to fill its new shopfronts and will no doubt be hoping that 2021 is the year.
Those behind the $10 million redevelopment could never have known the economy would be turned upside down before the project was finished mid-last year, but those are the cards that have been dealt.
On the other side of town, the Gateway at Kelso has a childcare centre and a petrol station open and construction reportedly due to start on a KFC outlet early this year.
And in between Westpoint and the Gateway, of course, are a number of CBD spaces for lease, waiting for someone willing to take a risk and a leap.
To those considering taking that leap this year, whether in the middle of the city or in one of the shopping centres in the suburbs, we salute you.
Our city, and our economy, need your ideas and your energy.
This isn't the easiest of times to take the plunge, but you can take comfort in one thought: if you can make it this year, the years to follow simply have to be better.
