Bitter cold and heavy snow have meant a weeks-long slump for businesses

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - January is typically a slow month for businesses, but vendors at the Soulard Farmers Market say this year has been especially difficult.

Ginger Humphrey, the owner of Cajun Kitchen, said that icy streets and freezing temperatures have kept customers away.

“January kind of wiped us out,” she said. “We struggled getting supplies, getting customers in the door. It was financially very rough.”

Bob Ray, the manager of the market, also noted the impact of the weather.

“Cold weather and storms aren’t good for business,” he said, though he felt that warmer weather forecast next week would help to close the gap.

“People just kind of hunker down, then when it goes on for a few weeks they go back out into the world.”

Lovely West, who runs a shop and an Instagram promoting local businesses, said that many of the businesses around the region that she’s been in touch with have reported some of their worst weeks since the pandemic.

“You can go out and a local business and show up for them the way they show up for the city,” she said.

Conner Kerrigan from Mayor Tishaura Jones' office acknowledged that many restaurant and retail establishments had been struggling amid poor weather and problems with ice and snow in January.

Kerrigan said this week’s storm would not have the same lasting impact for businesses, given forecasts in the 50s as early as this weekend.

He said the mayor’s office is continuing to develop improved snow plans in conjunction with Alderman Shane Cohn.

"That could include an ordinance that requires people to move over to one side of the street during winter months to ensure plows can get down the streets," he said.

Vendors at the farmers market are now looking to events like the Taste of Soulard this weekend to make up for lost ground at the start of the year.

“Even if it’s 35 degrees people will come out, and we’re always glad to see them. Hopefully, we’ll bounce back a little bit,” Humphrey said.

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