As the sleet continued this afternoon, many of the establishments lining the business district along Big Bend Road from Murdoch Avenue west to the Lockwood Avenue intersection closed early in an effort to keep customers and employees safe.  

Most local retailers were done for the day in the afternoon. However, a handful of stores were keeping their doors open to the public despite the winter storm.

Pizza restaurants Imo’s and Racanelli’s made plans to close early this afternoon. Imo’s had been running deliveries, but pulled back as drivers cited deteriorating conditions. Racanelli’s manager Brian Bullock’s drivers called early to tell him they could not get to work, so he was serving pies to anyone, as he says, “brave enough to trudge the frozen tundra for a pie.”

If your pet needs urgent medical assistance, and you can get out of your driveway, Webster Animal Hospital was open and planned to maintain normal hours (open till 2 a.m.) today.

Another business toughing out the weather is Weber’s Front Row. Server Abigail Schaefer indicated as long as they have power the restaurant will remain open till 1 a.m., as usual. “Lots of neighborhood folks seem to have bundled up and walked here to enjoy steaks, and wings, and drinks…I guess they’re pretty hungry,” said Schaefer.

Cryano’s closed up for the day, and Euclid Records followed suit so your craving for vinyl will have to wait until the storm clears.

Workers at Starbucks tell us they’ve seen plows clearing Big Bend, but despite this information, the coffee shop is closing early, so there were no more frappuccino drinks after 1 p.m. today.

The noodle restaurant, Tei Too, and Stratton’s Café put up the closed sign for the day, as did Serendipity Ice Cream. Admittedly, one would really have to be an ice cream nut to brave this weather for a scoop.

Music Folk is officially closed today and tomorrow, but manager Kerry Goodwin and a handful of staff were at the shop earlier, catching up on lesson preparations and other odds and ends. According to Goodwin the roads seem ok but given the worst is yet to come he decided to shut down today and keep it that way till things clear up.

Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen and its neighbor Big Sky Café both had calls going to voicemail, so we’re left to surmise both spots have taken the day off.

Garland Wines remained open till 5 p.m. today and planned to be open on Wednesday, but Ben Franklin, which offers craft products nearby was closed for the day and did not indicate what it would do on Wednesday.

If you are hungry and can either walk or have transportation capable of weathering the storm there are dining and shopping options available in the strip of shops and restaurants along Big Bend.