Greenville’s small businesses are struggling to recover from recent winter storms that led to temporary closures and disrupted local supply chains, impacting revenue during a traditionally slow sales period.Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery Store is beginning to see a return to normal sales after last week’s winter storms.The store sources produce locally, and while their shelves are stocked, many area farmers they work with lost crops, resulting in lost revenue for the store. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Justin Roller, Food Hub Manager at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery Store.To ensure safety, they made changes throughout the week, including altering hours and adjusting end times to allow for more daylight and melting ice. “We also wanted to keep our staff safe. So hours were altered, end times were adjusted so there was more daylight, ice had been melted,” Roller said.The store decided to close for one weekend day, which was a significant hit for the small business. “For a very small mom and pop shop in town, we feel the hit when we’re closed for a weekend,” Roller said.The impacts extend beyond store shelves. “To lose your number one day, it’s huge,” said Steven Zurkey, executive chef for The Anchorage.The restaurant lost about a week’s worth of business. “We have a small space here. We can see about 100 a night. And in a matter of hours on Friday, we saw our reservations go from close to 100 down to 6 people. So we made the decision to close at that point,” Zurkey said.The Anchorage also sources ingredients locally, which has forced them to get creative in their operations. “It definitely forces you to get creative,” Zurkey said.Rise Bakery, which supplies both The Anchorage and Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery with breads and sweet treats, is also feeling the impact. The owner noted that kids being on e-learning has disrupted normal routines, affecting the bakery’s business.”Well, because people are off their normal routine. Any time they have to pivot and readjust, they they they do away with the unnecessary things,” said Julian Loue, owner of Rise Bakery.With the extensive process of kneading, folding, and baking, it takes two days to prepare their products. “So once that train is rolling, either we have to throw out a lot of product or we need to figure out how to get it into the hands of our community,” Loue said.As the community continues to support local businesses, both the businesses and the weather are beginning to warm up. All affected businesses are now operating on normal hours, with some reporting that customers are starting to return.
Greenville’s small businesses are struggling to recover from recent winter storms that led to temporary closures and disrupted local supply chains, impacting revenue during a traditionally slow sales period.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery Store is beginning to see a return to normal sales after last week’s winter storms.
The store sources produce locally, and while their shelves are stocked, many area farmers they work with lost crops, resulting in lost revenue for the store. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Justin Roller, Food Hub Manager at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery Store.
To ensure safety, they made changes throughout the week, including altering hours and adjusting end times to allow for more daylight and melting ice. “We also wanted to keep our staff safe. So hours were altered, end times were adjusted so there was more daylight, ice had been melted,” Roller said.
The store decided to close for one weekend day, which was a significant hit for the small business. “For a very small mom and pop shop in town, we feel the hit when we’re closed for a weekend,” Roller said.
The impacts extend beyond store shelves. “To lose your number one day, it’s huge,” said Steven Zurkey, executive chef for The Anchorage.
The restaurant lost about a week’s worth of business. “We have a small space here. We can see about 100 a night. And in a matter of hours on Friday, we saw our reservations go from close to 100 down to 6 people. So we made the decision to close at that point,” Zurkey said.
The Anchorage also sources ingredients locally, which has forced them to get creative in their operations. “It definitely forces you to get creative,” Zurkey said.
Rise Bakery, which supplies both The Anchorage and Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery with breads and sweet treats, is also feeling the impact. The owner noted that kids being on e-learning has disrupted normal routines, affecting the bakery’s business.
“Well, because people are off their normal routine. Any time they have to pivot and readjust, they they they do away with the unnecessary things,” said Julian Loue, owner of Rise Bakery.
With the extensive process of kneading, folding, and baking, it takes two days to prepare their products. “So once that train is rolling, either we have to throw out a lot of product or we need to figure out how to get it into the hands of our community,” Loue said.
As the community continues to support local businesses, both the businesses and the weather are beginning to warm up. All affected businesses are now operating on normal hours, with some reporting that customers are starting to return.
