Two beauty salons and a childrenswear/home wares retailer are the latest businesses to set up shop on the main street.

The additions are a welcome change for the CBD which suffered the loss of three businesses in 2014 - Sassy Lassie as well as Kevin O'Connor's Menswear and Today's Jewellers, which between them had at least 150 years of trading experience.

Graham Baxter is the executive officer at the Southern Region Business Enterprise Centre and he believes local business has turned a corner.

"There's still a way to go but the positive signs are there," he said.

"Certainly when we have had clients relocate or move in the main street, such as Beautiful Gifting [which moved from Cassidy's Arcade to the main street].

These decisions cost money and is a show of confidence by business people. They're here for the long term."

Monaro Street newest retailers include Beauty by Nikki which relocated from Lawrence House into one half of the former-Sassy Lassie store; Ariel's Beauty has replaced Beauty by Nikki in Lawrence House and Mini Bling/Creative Living pop up is now in the old Catholic Care office (next to Queanbeyan Work Wear).

Nikki Gilbert of Beauty by Nikki has been running her business in Queanbeyan for the past 11 years but recently made the move to a main street location.

She has renovated the Sassy Lassie store and replaced it with a modern monochrome interior.

"I just really wanted to come out into the main street and move forward with the traffic," she said.

"I think I have the perfect location - it's in a prominent position near the intersection and there's plenty of foot traffic."

Just down the street, former-Queanbeyan resident Christina Nano and her husband Amine Sbai have established a 'pop up shop' stocking their childrenswear and vintage-inspired home wares.

The business opened locally this week but has been running for about five years online, at markets and the occasional stall in shopping centres.

Mrs Nano and her family recently returned to the area and about a month ago they made the decision to open a physical store.

She was attracted to the main street location and flexibility of the monthly lease.

"We wanted to find somewhere stable, somewhere people could come and see us," she said.

"It wasn't difficult to find a shop, there are a lot of empty spaces here.

"I used to remember [the main street] thriving a lot more but if more little businesses, like this, pop up then we'll be back to those days."

Canberra-based Ariel Yao of Ariel's Beauty launched her business over this side of the border after she couldn't find the right location in the ACT.

After months of searching, it took her only two weeks to find a suitable shop front in Queanbeyan.

"It's much, much cheaper here than in Canberra," she said.

"Also, there's quite a big market in Queanbeyan.

"During my research I found in Canberra, a suburb might have 2000 - 3000 people but Queanbeyan, including Jerrabomberra and Googong, is more than 10,000 people so it's a good market."

The three new additions are a positive sign for the local economy after retailers experienced a tough trading year in 2014.

The only other main street exit was the long-time Tattoo Extreme and Body Piercing which moved out of Monaro Street and relocated to Fyshwick earlier in the year.

The other big business news in town is the controversial arrival of franchise Dan Murphy's Liquor Store on the corner of Crawford and Morrisett St. It is expected to open its doors later this year.

Mr Baxter said the launch of the 'Why Leave Town' promotion, recently established Women In Business Group and renovation of the Tourist Hotel was a step in a better direction for local business.

"My perception is there is a renewed level of optimism around the CBD of Queanbeyan," he said.

"There's a sense the worst is behind us."