Small businesses ask for support after winter storm

SHAWNEE, Kan. (KCTV) – In downtown Shawnee, residents could be seen walking around piles of snow to their favorite local spot and enjoying their Friday night. “It is much needed and appreciated after a tough week for small businesses,” said Christie Jackson Transport Brewery.

“Snowmageddon was definitely a little chaos, a lot of hard work and kind of bittersweet,” Jackson said. “It’s really great to have a snow day, but not really when you’re a small business. It’s quite difficult to keep track of things when you have to switch off for three days.”

Founded in 2018, Transport Brewery says it is Shawnee’s first microbrewery. They have a second location in Gardner. Weekends are the busiest at the brewery. The closure last Saturday and Sunday due to the storm was difficult for them.

“Their mom and pop businesses have really taken a hit from this,” Jackson said. “We now have to pay higher bills just trying to keep the sidewalks and our parking lots safe and operational.”

They were finally able to reopen on Tuesday, but Jackson says the closure not only impacted the business, but also the staff.

“We had to cut 12 shifts between both breweries,” Jackson said. “That’s a lot. One of our bartenders is planning a wedding, so she’s been picking up a lot of shifts. Weddings aren’t cheap and she’s lost a shift, as have our bartenders who rely on the extra income to do the things they need to do.”

She says things have been slow since reopening, but they’re optimistic heading into the weekend. If you head out this Saturday or Sunday, Jackson recommends shopping, eating and drinking locally.

“If you haven’t been to the brewery recently, definitely come out and support us,” Jackson said. “You can use our gift cards for everything from gift items to t-shirts. Anything you can do to contribute will really be of great benefit to small businesses in this current climate.”

For those thinking about stopping by Transport Brewery, Jackson says they also have non-alcoholic options for those who don’t drink or participate in Dry January.