AND PATRICK, WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU? YEAH, JESSICA. THAT’S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. YOU KNOW, MOST OKLAHOMANS CHOSE TO RIDE THE STORM OUT IN THEIR HOMES, WHICH MEANT THEY WERE STAYING OFF THE ROADS. AND THAT MEANT THERE WERE NO EXTRA TRIPS TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO RELY ON THEIR SUPPORT. WE WERE SCHEDULED TO HAVE A GREAT JANUARY, AND THEN THIS SNOWSTORM CAME, AND IT KIND OF TOOK US OUT BY THE KNEES. MANY OKLAHOMA BUSINESSES HURTING AFTER THIS WINTER STORM PREVENTED PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT AND ABOUT. SUNDAY WAS REALLY, REALLY QUIET. MONDAY WAS REALLY, REALLY QUIET AS WELL. IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF CANCELLATIONS. WE HAD A LOT OF OUT OF TOWNERS. AND BUSINESSES COMING IN CORPORATE THAT JUST COULDN’T STAY THE WEEKEND. DESPITE THE WEATHER AND THE ADDED COST. MILO MAKING SURE THEIR EMPLOYEES WERE TAKEN CARE OF. ANYBODY THAT DIDN’T HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, WE GOT THEM TO HAVE A HOTEL ROOM HERE FOR FREE, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS GOING TO BE DIRE. WE UPPED THEIR HOURLY WAGE AND SO THE COMPENSATION WAS WORTH IT FOR THEM. THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO RETURN TO NORMAL. TODAY HAS BEEN A REALLY FIRST DAY THAT WE’VE SEEN LIKE NORMALLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMING, SO TO SPEAK. AS FAR AS OUR BUSINESS AND CLIENTELE. WE’RE REALLY HOPING THAT EVERYBODY HAS CABIN FEVER AND WANTS TO GET OUT AND COME TO SEE US. AND BUSINESS OWNERS TELL ME THAT THEY’RE HOPING THAT THE WORST IS BEHIND THEM. WITH ALL THIS WINTER WEATHER, AS CONDITIONS START TO IMPROVE, ROADS STARTING TO CLEAR, THEY’RE HOPING OKLAHOMANS WILL GET OUT AN
Oklahoma businesses face challenges as winter storm impacts sales
A winter storm in Oklahoma has significantly affected local businesses, leading to decreased customer visits and financial challenges.
Updated: 5:05 PM CST Jan 28, 2026
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A winter storm in Oklahoma has left local businesses struggling as residents stayed home, leading to a significant drop in customer visits and financial strain.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter”We were scheduled to have a great January, and then this snowstorm came, and it took us out by the knees,” said Joanna Smith, manager at Milo Restaurant.The storm has caused many businesses to suffer as people avoided going out. “Sunday was really, really quiet. Monday was really, really quiet as well,” Smith said. “It was unfortunately a lot of cancellations. We had a lot of out-of-towners and businesses coming in, corporate, that just couldn’t stay the weekend.”Despite the challenges, Milo Restaurant ensured their employees were supported during the storm. “Anybody that didn’t have reliable transportation, we got them to have a hotel room here for free,” Smith said. “Because we knew that the traffic was going to be dire, we upped their hourly wage, and so, the compensation was worth it for them.”As conditions improve, businesses are beginning to see a return to normalcy. “Today has been our really first day that we’ve seen like normally scheduled programming, so to speak, as far as our business and clientele,” Smith said. “We’re hoping that everybody has cabin fever and wants to get out and come see us.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Business owners are hopeful that with roads clearing and people getting back out, they can expect a busier weekend ahead.Top HeadlinesState Rep. Ajay Pittman resigns, pleads guilty after submitting forged check to Ethics CommissionWATCH: Large leak ices over water tower at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma CityResidents forced to evacuate after large fire breaks out at northwest OKC apartment complexGet the Facts: ICE funding surged under President Trump. Here’s how muchAmazon to cut about 16,000 jobs in latest round of layoffs
A winter storm in Oklahoma has left local businesses struggling as residents stayed home, leading to a significant drop in customer visits and financial strain.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
“We were scheduled to have a great January, and then this snowstorm came, and it took us out by the knees,” said Joanna Smith, manager at Milo Restaurant.
The storm has caused many businesses to suffer as people avoided going out.
“Sunday was really, really quiet. Monday was really, really quiet as well,” Smith said. “It was unfortunately a lot of cancellations. We had a lot of out-of-towners and businesses coming in, corporate, that just couldn’t stay the weekend.”
Despite the challenges, Milo Restaurant ensured their employees were supported during the storm.
“Anybody that didn’t have reliable transportation, we got them to have a hotel room here for free,” Smith said. “Because we knew that the traffic was going to be dire, we upped their hourly wage, and so, the compensation was worth it for them.”
As conditions improve, businesses are beginning to see a return to normalcy.
“Today has been our really first day that we’ve seen like normally scheduled programming, so to speak, as far as our business and clientele,” Smith said. “We’re hoping that everybody has cabin fever and wants to get out and come see us.”
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Business owners are hopeful that with roads clearing and people getting back out, they can expect a busier weekend ahead.
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