BANGOR, Maine — With a nor'easter in the works this week, many people across the state may be snowed in. And although some Mainers are looking forward to Mother Nature's possible last hoorah for a snowstorm this season, others, like business owners, said the storm may force them to change plans and store hours.
Business owners in the Greater Bangor area said they're not excited at all for the incoming weather, explaining that bad weather could leave them with no choice but to close early or close completely for the day.
With service hours likely to change, some business owners said they could suffer a loss of sales.
The spring snowstorm has already pushed Reny's to delay the grand opening of its new store on Springer Drive in Bangor. It was originally scheduled for Thursday but will now be held at 10 a.m. Friday.
"In our 75 years, this is the first time we've had a snowstorm push off an opening day," Adam Reny said. "One more day doesn't hurt as long as everyone's safe."
For some business owners like barbers, money is on the line. Braeden DeTour, owner of Stay Gold barbershop in downtown Bangor, said that if he decides to cancel appointments with his clients, he could miss out on up to $500 a day.
He said in his line of business, cancellations are rare.
"Most times people don't cancel," DeTour said. "They'll come out in the storms just to get a haircut."
DeTour explained that clients sometimes struggle to reschedule appointments due to schedule conflicts and limited appointment availability.
"You cancel on one weekend, it's like, I can't get you back in for the next two weeks," DeTour said. "They're going to be upset."
Other businesses like Grind House Bangor and Umami Noodle Bar in downtown rely on foot traffic.
"The last storm we did slow down for sure," Tantai Rayapuang, owner of Umami Noodle Bar said. "We get more online ordering, take out and DoorDash especially. But definitely we slowed down on traffic."
Workers at Grind House Bangor said they don't fill online orders, and they only serve in-store customers for dine in or take out.
When the store managers decide to close the restaurant early or completely due to weather, they lose $1,000 or more in sales.
"If we don't have the foot traffic come in, it's not worth it for us to be open," said Laura Linscott, a barista at the restaurant.
She said the restaurant has had to close four or five times because of inclement weather.
Waitresses and baristas like Linscott rely on tips, meaning missing one day of work could be the difference between earning enough money to cover bills or coming up short for the month.
Grind House Bangor cook Alejandro Vargas said the impact weather has on employees who make less than minimum wage is the most unfortunate part of getting hit with a storm.
"As a cook, no matter how many people come in, I still make the same amount of money," Vargas said. "People who rely on tips, who make under state minimum wage and those kinds of things get hit more than anything as soon as we get weather."
When you ask shop owners whether they'll be changing their plans ahead of Thursday's storm, some said they'll play it by ear.
"It all depends on how many bills I have to play," DeTour said with a hearty laugh.