Warm Weather Provides Boost To Local Businesses
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The warmer weather is giving local businesses an early boost -- temperatures in the 50's and 60's in March in Minnesota are the gift that keeps on giving.
Minnesotans are outside all year round, but there is something about when the weather starts to turn.
"They're coming in and they're excited about being outside finally," manager Dustin Pfeffer said at Von Hanson's in Plymouth. "It's been a long decent winter and now it's time to enjoy some steaks."
At Von Hanson's, the warmer temperatures outside brings more business inside. They've already seen a boost in sales and are expecting more as temperatures keep climbing.
"Instead of smaller purchases just for a meal that night, they're thinking 'I'm going to invite some people over," Pfeffer said. "Have a little bit of a get together and grill out with friends and family"
Kitchen Window in Uptown is already firing up the grills.
"I'm so excited, it's a beautiful day in Uptown," Chef Jonathon Gans said. "The sun is shining and the grills are going."
Kitchen Window has grilling classes all year, but when temperatures get warmer classes get busier. Their Grill Expo is coming up April 11 and 12 for beginners to experts.
Chef Gans warns to make sure the grill is properly cleaned off after sitting out in the cold and snow all winter.
"There's a fire hazard there if there's a lot of grease," Chef Gans said.
As brats hit the grill, more bikers hit the road.
"I'm happy to see our temperatures moderate a little bit it brings more of our cyclists out," Freewheel Bike Sales Supervisor Marcy Levine said.
For Freewheel Bike, the early warm up is like an early holiday season.
"Other businesses make the great majority of their sales from Thanksgiving to Christmas," Levine said. "We are busiest from whenever the weather breaks from late winter, early spring to late summer."
Levine says it's important to get your bike checked out if it's been sitting in a garage all winter, just to make sure everything is working ok and the tire pressure at the right level.
Restaurants are also gearing up for serving their customers outside. Brits Pub on Nicolett Mall brought out their patio furniture Sunday and, weather permitting, are hoping to open their rooftop bar by Thursday.