Warm Weather, COVID-19 Vaccines Create Sunny Outlook For Tulsa Businesses

Things aren’t back to normal yet, but every day more people are getting COVID-19 vaccines and warm weather is around the corner. Some Green Country businesses are getting excited about the possibilities for the summer.

Good weather is good news for businesses starting to shake off a cold, hard winter and they have a far sunnier outlook than they did just a few cold months ago. 

C.O.O. of the McNellie's Group Jim O'Connor said business over the last two warmer weeks has improved. He said his restaurants with outdoor seating are experiencing the most benefit.

"For the first time in a year we think we're going to make it through this," O’Connor said. "Some of the sales actually started to increase. Not to where they were historically, but they're trending in the right direction finally."

Outdoor seating is only one element of a boost in customer confidence.

Keli Miller is counting down the hours until she opens the doors to her new escape room business near 91st and Memorial.

"I'm feeling excited. I would not be here doing this in this season if I did not feel like people are ready," Miller said. "We were building our business in a down time so that we could be ready when everybody else was."

She and her future customers said an increase in vaccinations and a decrease in COVID cases has them feeling more confident to go out again.

Both businesses chose to build during the pandemic. At James E. McNellie's it was finishing the outdoor seating and Miller built a business. So far, those decisions look like they're paying off.

"We kind of put a few things on pause, backpedaled for a second and then came to a place where we want to be ready. When Tulsa is ready, we want to be here," Miller said.

Next Door Escapes and Entertainment opens on Monday, and McNellie's is looking forward to a big St. Patrick’s Day.