Restaurants Hurting, Hardware Stores Thriving In Cold

The recent temperatures have benefitted some businesses and have hurt others.

Gene Lorman, who manages the Ace Hardware on West Washington, is not complaining about the weather.

"The heaters (are selling) because power has been out, or they are wanting to supplement their heat with kerosene heaters or your electric heaters," he said.   "The plumbing (products are selling) because pipes are bursting and they are repairing pipes."

Business is booming for him by about 15 to 20 percent, compared to last year.

"It means I can do more things or I can pay my employees a little bit more or improve some things," said Lorman.  "Or, just keep hold of that profit right now or that extra cash that we are bringing in right now and in the leaner months that's what you use."

But, Patrick Tamm of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association says those industries are hurting.

He says the industry has seen a 45 to 50 percent drop in business compared to last year.

"There is truly no hope in making that back up at this point," he said.  "We know that this is a tough time of the year to begin with, but for a winter like this which for a lot of us is the worst winter that some have seen in two plus decades."

Temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days, hitting the 40s by the weekend.

Photo courtesy Ace Hardware West Washington via Facebook.