KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — People are beginning to venture out of their homes more than a week after snow and ice hit East Tennessee. Small businesses across East Tennessee have posted on social media about the lack of business due to the winter storm.
"I know there a lot of businesses were impacted by, you know, customers not being able to get out suppliers, or not being able to, you know, get raw materials and goods in. So, I think this is a great opportunity as a community for us to kind of double down and support our local businesses," said Doug Lawyer, the vice president of economic development for the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce.
Penne for Your Thoughts started as a food truck in 2018 and for the last year and a half, it's had a retail location too. The recent storm gave flashbacks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was another round of stress and uncertainty for these business owners.
"It was pretty bad," said Geoff Bernstein, the owner of the restaurant. "We had a couple of, like, call-in orders of a lot of our regulars. Our regulars had been really great for us, really loyal. But other than that there was there was basically not a lot going on."
Bernstein's wife posted on social media about the lack of customers, and several people responded.
"We had a great response, people are so loving and caring about, you know, the local small business community here," said Bernstein. "And I think it just kind of gave a jolt to everyone to go out and start supporting."
In addition to fewer people coming in, Bernstein said delivery trucks weren't able to deliver goods because of unsafe road conditions at the beginning of last week. He said after the post, business started booming.
"Immediately, people came out of the woodwork," said Bernstein. "And it kind of harkens back to the story I was telling about the pandemic, where we felt like we were saving people when they weren't able to get out. I kind of felt stuck here with no business. And then everyone came to us and kind of saved us. We had a great response, people are so loving and caring about, you know, the local small business community here."
Some people who saw the post are returning customers.
"A friend of mine posted that she had shared that they were struggling a little bit with all the snow and stuff so we're like, 'Sure, let's come on out we love it here,'" said Tanya Johnson, a returning customer.
And others had never been to the restaurant before. Susan Lemons invited her best friends to try out the food. She came from Northeast Knoxville, one friend came from South Knoxville, and the other came from Kodak to try the West Knoxville restaurant.
"I wish him the best of luck in all his endeavors this next year," said Susan Lemons.
Bernstein said he's thankful for those who came out to support not only his local business but others in the community too. And Lawyer said supporting these local businesses is just another way to support friends and neighbors.
"Local business people are warriors and trying to sell their goods and service and provide a great product," said Lawyer. "And it's super important just to support those companies."
Bernstein said in addition to eating at the restaurant, other ways to support small businesses include buying gift cards or even spreading the word that they're open.