Small Businesses Bear the Brunt of Winter Storm Disruptions

McKENZIE (February 2) — As northwest Tennessee slowly thaws out from the icy remnants of Winter Storm Fern, The Banner reached out to local small business owners and operators to hear, in their own words, about the ongoing impact of the weather event.

Cindy Gaylord of Bobby Gee's Diner told The Banner the restaurant was closed for two days and operated for fewer hours on other days. "We worked short-staffed for three days after opening. The days we were open, it was very slow. It delayed our truck routes, so we were late on getting product in. In addition to our heat, we had to use electric heaters in areas where it’s just super cold. So that adds to the electric bill. Winter storms really impact us small towns!"

Victor Vela of Maria's Mexican Restaurant reported that they were closed for three days, Saturday through Monday, at the onset of the ice. Tuesday, Vela provided transportation for some employees who were eager to work.

He told The Banner, "That's the first rule we have here in the restaurant. As long as it's safe, if I can protect them, we're good. So far, everybody on my team is safe and ok, so we're blessed, even with all of these problems. It's part of the show. You have to pay bills, and you have to keep going.

Vela also noted the supply disruption and intermittent internet services affected the ability to serve customers even as the restaurant reopened. "Especially for small businesses, we depend on everyday customers," he said. "Some places can close [with less impact], but for restaurants, if you don't sell for one day, you don't sell it. Food is going to go bad. We buy fresh. And we depend on credit cards. If the internet or card processing is down…"

He also expressed concern that already high prices will go up as a result of the widespread effects of the storm over the next couple of weeks.

Diana Haynes of Congetta's Chi-talian Favorites told The Banner, "During this recent stretch of winter weather, foot traffic dropped noticeably. Even regular customers who normally stop in without thinking had to prioritize safety, and we completely understand that. But fewer customers still means less revenue, while our costs stay the same. Utilities, food orders, payroll, and rent don’t pause just because the weather does.

"Ice also affects our ability to receive supplies on time. When trucks are delayed or roads are unsafe, it can limit what we’re able to serve or force us to adjust our menu unexpectedly. That kind of uncertainty is tough for any business, but especially for small restaurants that operate on tight margins.

"We’re grateful for the customers who made the effort to come out when it was safe, and for the community that continues to support local businesses through the winter months. Weather like this is a reminder of how interconnected small towns are — when conditions are rough, we all feel it.

"As a small business owner, all we can do is adapt, stay flexible, and hope for clearer roads and brighter days ahead."

Stephanie McClerkin of The Happy Book Stack reported lower sales after a one-day closure on Sunday, bookended by two abbreviated days on Saturday and Monday. She said it was difficult to know how much food to prepare and how much staff to schedule. Delays in delivery and local supply disruptions left them without milk for several days last week, and they are still without oat milk.

Mark Bowlin of McKenzie FunZone Action Arena told The Banner, "We were closed for two weekends, which is when we normally have traffic. Employees were impacted from lack of hours due to road conditions. It has put a major strain on our small business."

Dr. Jay Phipps of Phipps Pharmacy said, "As Winter Storm Fern loomed over our community, the team at Phipps Pharmacy demonstrated their commitment to providing the highest quality patient care. Phipps Pharmacy was open every day with abbreviated hours. The team made sure that medications were dispensed to patients including making deliveries to patients who were stuck inside."

Dr. Phipps offered an example from the initial weekend of the weather event. An elderly patient had a prescription called in to treat what the patient thought was shingles. The patient could not get out of her driveway to see her medical provider, and the provider had very limited information. Phipps personally delivered the prescription after closing as snow and sleet continued to fall on the already covered roadways. When he arrived at the patient’s house, he determined that it was not shingles but was an allergic reaction. Dr. Phipps contacted the prescribing provider and recommended different medications to treat the patient’s condition. The provider was thankful that he was able to go and lay eyes on the patient, assess their condition and get the patient the prescriptions they needed. Phipps went back to the pharmacy to get the new medicine and then made a second trip to the patient’s home to deliver.  

The pharmacy's primary supplier did not deliver in the first week of Fern resulting in some inventory challenges. Dr. Phipps said the team worked to ensure that patients had enough medication to get them through the icy conditions. "The challenges of the winter storm highlighted the value of a Phipps Pharmacy’s program called 'One Trip Refills'. Most pharmacies wait for patients to call the pharmacy when they are out of medication before filling the patient's prescriptions. We have flipped the process so that our team contacts the patients, seven to ten days before they are out of medicine." The program gave the Phipps team a head start on the disruptions to come.

Dr. Phipps said, “I am proud of our team’s performance, and I am blessed that they are committed to providing excellent patient care regardless of the weather. We provide more than just lifesaving medicine; we provide the care our communities deserve. The winter storm showed again that we are big enough to take care of patients’ needs and small enough to care."

Local hardware and supply stores saw spikes in demand for specific products in the days leading up to the storm, similar to runs on grocery stores.

Ed Long of BR Supply said that the store was open as normal but with adjusted hours Monday through Wednesday, "so our employees did not have to be on the roads before dawn or after dark."

He said, "We were able to help supply our regular contractors as well as help homeowners repair their plumbing, electrical and heating issues that arose due to the storm and its aftermath. I am very thankful that our employees have four-wheel drive vehicles and truly wanted to come in to work to help others. Business was slow compared to a normal week, of course, since so many people were unable to get out and most likely only attempted to get to BR Supply if it was an absolute emergency. We're praying for everyone to recover from this dreadful storm quickly and that we don’t see another like it for a very long time!"

BR supply employees reported high demand for well house heaters, heat lamps and hose bib covers prior to the storm.

Cindy Poff of Bennett Hardware said that the store was closed on Monday and opened with adjusted hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.

She said it was "a wild three days" before the storm hit. "They tried to kill us!" Items such as propane and kerosene, heaters, ice melt and sleds (or any item that could be used to sled) flew off the shelves during the week. The store was fortunate to receive a truck on Friday, just before the storm arrived, but those high-demand items were sold out again in minutes.

Andy Wilson of Carroll County Lumber reported similar runs on ice melt, heaters and sleds. He also noted that they were able to remain open as normal.