Australian retailers are beginning to tentatively reopen stores across the country despite the pressing threat of the coronavirus pandemic, with a retail industry group telling shopkeepers to reopen stores "if they can".

Hundreds of retail stores shut and tens of thousands of workers were stood down in late March, as merchants battled both plummeting trade and strict new social distancing laws introduced by both federal and state governments.

Foot traffic along Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall has plummeted during the pandemic, but retailers are now being encouraged to reopen stores. Credit:Simon Schluter

Many companies said the closures would remain in place indefinitely, while others flagged a tentative four-week timeframe. However, some are already beginning to gradually reopen stores or are formulating plans to reopen sooner than expected.

National children's retailer Kidstuff announced on Monday it would begin to reopen selected stores through its network, with all bar eight of its 59 locations resuming trade under modified hours and with preventative measures in place, including limits on the number of customers at one time and a ramp up in cleaning procedures.