FRANKFORT, IL — After severe weather on Wednesday, several stores and restaurants in downtown Frankfort lost a day's worth of business due to power outages.
The outages impacted Nautical Bowls, Rustic Knead, Senso, The Wine Thief, Kup A Joe, La Dolce Vita and others.
Nautical Bowls owner Briley Birkey told Patch that the outages were a devastating setback as a small business owner. One day worth of revenue during a busy season was lost, as well as lost inventory costs, Birkey added.
"Behind every closed door are employees who rely on their hours, owners who have invested their savings and hearts into their businesses, and families who depend on these stores succeeding," Birkey said.
Nautical Bowls, at 5 N. White St., will have a raffle on Friday. Every bowl purchased will come with an entry to win free Nautical Bowls for a month.
The Wine Thief, 6 Elwood St., also had to close for a day on Thursday due to the outages.
"To be candid, June and July are already some of the most challenging months of the year for independent restaurants in Frankfort due to the closure of Kansas Street. This unexpected setback makes an already difficult season even harder for our team," the business wrote on its Facebook.
Residents can help support The Wine Thief by joining its wine club, buying tickets to a future event, buying a gift card or purchasing retail through its website.
Kup A Joe Cafe, 41 Old Frankfort Way, also reopened Friday after a one-day closure.
La Dolce Vita Della Piazza also closed Thursday due to the power outages.
"Our team is using this time to make sure everything is perfectly prepped, cleaned and ready to go tomorrow," the restaurant wrote on its Facebook. "We appreciate your patience and understanding so much! We can’t wait to welcome everyone back through our doors for a wonderful dinner [on Friday].
Birkey encouraged Frankfort residents to help support local businesses by visiting, purchasing a meal or gift card, and sharing their experiences.
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Frankfort, IL Patch
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