LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As Kentuckiana continues to dig out from the winter storm, local businesses are counting the cost of lost sales, with many forced to close for days due to hazardous weather.
Schimpff's Confectionery, a Jeffersonville institution for 133 years, rarely shuts its doors, but the storm made Monday an exception. Candy maker Steve Shepherd said it was a difficult decision.
“It’s very untypical that we close on a weekday, a normal business day, but with the weather, you just have to be safe,” Shepherd said.
The storm’s timing was particularly challenging. January is traditionally a slower month for businesses, and missing a day only made it worse.
“It’s a very, very slow start,” Shepherd said. “Usually January is slower, but missing a day makes it even slower.”
By Tuesday, the store was open again, but the candy observation area, typically bustling with visitors, remained empty.
“We don’t let much get in our way. We’ve seen it all before. We know how to react to it,” Shepherd said.
NuLu Leather also closed its doors Monday but reopened Tuesday. Michelle Moore is an employee and said even with the store open, the weather still affected their sales.
“We had one customer come in, well, a couple and their dog to get a chew,” Moore said.
She noted that businesses in the area spent much of their time shoveling sidewalks and entrances, a task that further limited foot traffic.
“The weather hitting now is definitely hindering our sales,” she said.
Despite the weather, Flanagan’s Ale House on Bardstown Road in the Highlands saw a gradual return of customers by Wednesday. The restaurant, which closed on Sunday and Monday due to the storm, was back up and running with a cautious approach.
“We definitely could have started the day, but then we saw it was going to get worse and worse through the day, and there was no point in putting staff or patrons in danger,” said manager Drew Borgmann.
While all businesses reported financial losses, they’re not dwelling on the past.
“We have Valentine’s coming up, so we’re going to be in here making candy and hoping people will join us sometime,” Shepherd said.
As snow is expected to return on Friday, business owners remain hopeful and committed to staying open.
“We’re not too worried,” said Shepherd. “We’ll be here.”
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