‘Snow days really affect us’: Stores in Bend’s Old Mill report sizable drop in shoppers when big snowstorm hits

(Update: Adding video, comments from business owners)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Winter snow can bring challenges for local business at a traditionally slower time. The snow build up kept customers from coming to the Old Mill District. 

At Wild Child, a children's shop, the owner says only two sales were made on Tuesday. 

"January is always a slow month, especially after we just had Christmas in a toy store," Wild Child owner Keri Travis said Wednesday. "So that's normal. But snow days really affect us."

On Tuesday, the store closed three hours early, shutting its doors at 4 p.m. 

The shop typically sees an increase in sales during Christmas and in the summer, and prepares for a winter slowdown. 

"I still feel like I need to open my business," Travis said. "It's sunny out, and I feel like some people might be shopping, so I want to be open. And yet it's hard to be open when there's no one coming down."

 It'd also been a slow week at nearby Savory Spice Shop.

Owner Matthew Perry said outside of holiday shopping, July and August bring in the most sales. 

"I think that will pay off for most of us business owners in town, as there's more snow and more water and all those activities can come, and people will keep coming here to do that."

Employees from the spice shop were given the option of going into work or staying home.

"I want them to be safe," Perry said. "If they want to come in and they feel it's safe and they can make it, great. And if they don't, that's okay. Well, we'll figure it out."

The Old Mill District has their own company, Millsite Landscape Services, that helps clear the snow off the roads and the sidewalks.