This Week's Weather Impact On Tulsa Businesses

The ice and cold are having a big effect on lots of Tulsa businesses. Some business is booming and some is dwindling. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Jennifer Loren talked to several different business

Thursday, January 18th 2007, 9:28 pm

By: News On 6

The ice and cold are having a big effect on lots of Tulsa businesses. Some business is booming and some is dwindling.

News on 6 reporter Jennifer Loren talked to several different business owners Thursday and if they're making money or not, it seems no one likes this weather.

Itâ€™s been a good week for business at Best Electric and Hardware. "It started last week and really hasn't quit since then." Greg Wilborn says they have sold out of their winter supplies, and then restocked, sold out, restocked and now they're almost sold out again. But they say they don't like this weather any more than you and I. "We don't love the bad weather. My arms hurt last night. I unloaded and loaded too many bags of ice melt. My arms were hurting."

Jim Rice at Central Towing has his drivers working around the clock. He says they've towed at least 300 cars this week and they're all from accidents. "These are accidents. These are 300 accident cars. And you know thatâ€™s a lot."

At $65 per tow, he says he will make some money. But he says the ice is more of a problem for towing companies than a blessing. "And the reason why is because we run our trucks longer. We have to pay our guys more. We burn more fuel. We tear more stuff up. And when you tear stuff up you've gotta pay for it."

But not every place in town is overwhelmed with business. In fact, for people who sell things that aren't necessities like barbecue itâ€™s quite the opposite. "We've probably seen about a 60% reduction in business which is substantial." Keith Jimerson, the owner of Elmers BBQ says he had to close for two days which puts him at a loss.

Since then business has been dead and he's concerned for his employees. â€œAnd tips are a big part of their income. So when the customers stop coming through the door everything stops and they don't make money."

Business is starting to pick up at most places in town. But like all of us, they're worried about this weekend's storm and what it will do to business.