Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The latest round of lake effect snow came and went this past week, with some areas across the Southtowns seeing more than 2-to-3 feet of snow in places like Hamburg, Orchard Park and East Aurora.
While the lake effect snow was later to arrive than in recent years, this winter has already produced three storms that has maybe caused some issues with holiday shoppers making their way to local businesses in Western New York.
"It's a boost if it's like a snow globe. It impacts negatively if we get this volume of snow, because parking becomes a problem, and people want to park close to the building because they're afraid of ice or falls. This much snow is always detrimental," said Laura Hackathorn, owner of What a Woman Wants boutique in the Village of Hamburg.
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For some businesses like Vidler's in East Aurora, the early snow can present somewhat of a problem for business, especially right around the holidays.
"We love the snow right after New Year's. Before that, it's very tough on business. I think 34% of our business is November, December, and if you lose a couple weekends, it hurts," said co-owner Cliff DeFlyer with WBEN.
Certainly whenever the snow impacts the region like it did this past Thursday, resulting in localized driving bans and road closures, forcing to close is not ideal with Christmas less than two weeks away.
"It definitely does hurt business," said Dale Wopperer, owner of Village Togs in the Village of Orchard Park. "I mean we closed, but after 40 years that I've had the store, I kind of can do whatever I want with it. It's like, I try to get in here, but it's not always possible. But they did this great job plowing everything this year. It's amazing. I've already hit customers in here this morning."
"I would say that was hard, just because we were closed yesterday, and we definitely got a lot of snow, as you've seen in East Aurora here. But they definitely made sure to clear it up pretty quickly, and we were able to open again [Friday]," added Lindsey Vega, owner of Leveled Up Buffalo with WBEN.
"We need to be open every day we possibly can. We only have a week or so left here to shop, so when we're unable to open and close, it definitely affects us."
Hackathorn feels it's very important to make businesses accessible this time of year, no matter how much snow has fallen, because many local businesses have to continue competing with online shopping and big box stores.
"This is the thing that keeps our village alive, is all of mix of retail and restaurants," Hackathorn said with WBEN.
"We're lucky in the village in that we're two-and-a-half square miles, and we have a level of service, and that's what we pay our village taxes for. So our guys are out all the time, and they have less area to really maintain, so they're working hard to clear our business district. ... And the Village of Hamburg is committed to sidewalk snow plowing because, of course, that's our brand, it's walkability."
While the excess snow that falls throughout Western New York can sometimes hurt business, it can also be a helpful boost in business right around Christmas time.
"People find their way in, and they actually stay in town more when it does snow. So it won't be bad. I think it'll be a busy weekend," said Wopperer in an interview with WBEN.
"It, honestly, is beautiful here in East Aurora. I always encourage people to come out and shop, just because it feels like we're in a little snow globe. So it definitely helps," added Vega. "I feel like people love getting out and shopping. It makes the experience a lot more enjoyable."
While 1-to-2 feet of snow may make ventures to local businesses a bit treacherous, it's the lighter snowfalls that add to that holiday spirit, making spirits just a bit brighter with Christmas closing in.
"It just looks pretty out. We've got everything decorated for Christmas. A little snow actually gives a little kick start, and we needed it this year because Thanksgiving was late," DeFlyer said. "People weren't even thinking of it. I was golfing in November at 70 degrees, who's thinking about Christmas?"
"If you're going with friends to shop for the day, you absolutely want to go to a place that's historic, picturesque, walkable, you can go from shop-to-shop. That part of the Christmas season makes it very beautiful," added Hackathron. "We have our store windows decorated, beautiful white lights, our light poles are striped with candy cane stripes, with ribbon. So the Christmas season is always wonderful in the Village of Hamburg."
And while the snow was, once again, dumped across the Southtowns, another meltdown is upon us that will see much of the snow disappear again. While it may be frustrating to some, Vega feels it shouldn't detract people from taking in the festive spirit of the season.
"Very frustrating, just because it comes and it goes so quickly. I would say that is a downfall of it, but it's still great to come out and shop. Whether it is raining, snowing, it's beautiful outside," she said.