Freezing temps can’t put chill on Bend shoppers

It was a cold Tuesday on the High Desert, with temperatures topping out in the teens. But the frigid weather did not keep shoppers away from downtown Bend.

“The sun is shining, so you just have to embrace it,” said Janelle Centers from Portland.

The sun is also shining on businesses in Bend. Store owners we talked to said the economy has finally come back.

“The holidays were great,” said Ann Allen, co-owner of the downtown clothing store ju-bee-lee. ” We were super-busy, just really thrilled with how things went.”

Snow and ice could have put a chill on the shopping mood, but shops downtown made sure sidewalks were cleared and parking lots were plowed.

“People seem happy to be in the snow. The cold temperatures don’t seem to slow down our shops too much,” Allen said.

In fact, the snow might have helped business.

“The weather on the mountain has been a little unpredictable, because it’s so cold. So it brings a lot of people downtown shopping,” said Kelly Brooks, marketing assistant with the Downtown Bend Business Association.

Plenty of tourists were strolling through Bend, filling their shopping bags with goods.

“Actually, I really love the snow and everything about it,” said Matt Ostendorf from Washington. “I’m actually originally from Alaska, so the cold doesn’t bother me.”.

In an age of online shopping, mom-and-pop shops in Bend are booming.

“People like small, unique stores,” Brooks said.

Allen added, “This year was better than last year, although last year was really good. So we’re really happy.”