Sushi Kuni, a beloved restaurant located in West Linn, Oregon, is facing significant financial strain after being forced to close for a week due to treacherous winter storms. The owner, Agatha Chan, took a risk by driving through the storm to pick up the restaurant’s imported fresh fish and seafood, which was stuck at the airport. However, the hazardous conditions made it impossible for her employees to make it to work, resulting in much of the perishable inventory going to waste.
Chan, who opened the restaurant in July 2022, described the closure as a substantial financial strain, expressing concerns about paying bills and salaries for her workers without generating any income during the weeklong closure.
Thousands of businesses in the area have suffered significant losses due to the winter storms and subsequent power outages. Small businesses like restaurants and non-essential consumer goods shops have been hit the hardest, with little hope of recovering the sales lost during the closures. Additionally, the closure of Sushi Kuni comes at a particularly challenging time, as January and February are typically slower months for many businesses.
The impact of the winter storms extends beyond just financial losses. Sadie Sifuentes, who owns a floral shop in Fairview, has had to cancel orders due to road conditions and events being postponed. She also faces the challenge of having to restock perishable inventory, such as cut flowers, while preparing for upcoming events like Valentine’s Day.
This unfortunate situation highlights the vulnerability of small businesses in the face of unexpected weather events. As the community works to recover from the impact of the storms, it’s important to support local businesses as they navigate these challenging circumstances.
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