Lindt Australia said it hopes to reopen five Sydney stores as soon as staff feel ready, although the Martin Place location remains a crime scene.

“Lindt Australia continues to be devastated for the friends and families of the victims of the cafe incident and all affected staff and customers,” Lindt Australia CEO, Stephen Loane said.

Lindt cafes and offices will return to business on Wednesday after closing because of the dramatic events this week.

“We believe it is right, out of principle, to stand up and get operational again as soon as possible, wherever our staff are comfortable to do so,” Loane said.

Police expected to hand the Martin Place cafe back over to its owners by the end of Wednesday.

About 30 Lindt workers have shed tears together as they paid tribute to Tori Johnson at Sydney’s Martin Place today.

The 34 year old Lindt Chocolat Cafe manager was killed at the popular CBD cafe during the final stages of a 16 hour siege that ended early on Tuesday.

Johnson’s colleagues gathered on Wednesday at the makeshift shrine, which is now a sea of flowers that almost spills into the street, near the Lindt cafe.

Wearing their Lindt cafe t-shirts, the workers cried and hugged each other as they laid flowers.

Johnson and 38 year old barrister and mother of three Katrina Dawson both died after being taken hostage in the cafe.

AAP