Many Bay Area restaurants have been left out in the cold due to high demand for propane heaters.
With most restaurants dining solely outside these days, distributors said they are desperately trying to fill orders.
Demand first spiked in May as homeowners wished to allow for some gatherings outdoors amid stricter health protocol. But now, ever since Bay Area counties have allowed outdoor dining, many restaurant businesses have been struggling to accommodate changing conditions as winter approaches. This has caused a record increase of purchases for outdoor heating devices across the region.
"Back orders have spiraled out of control," said Eric Kahn, director of operations at Novato’s Alfresco Heating, one of the Bay Area’s most popular distributors of outdoor heaters based. "People are willing to pay full retail. They’re not really expecting discounts right now."
Kahn told KCBS Radio that even with the rush, many business owners are cooperating with the high demand and are doing what they can to make business easier for heating companies.
"If they can get them, they’re willing to get in line and wait," Kahn said. "The vast majority of people are super patient. They understand that we’re extremely busy, and they just want to get in cue for their heaters."
Sales of propane tanks are also heating up, with homeowners and businesses making repeated trips to refill them.
Kahn said that the largest order placed at Alfresco requested for 25 heaters.
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