Snow Storm Staples: Bread, Milk and Soup?

It’s tradition that Rhode Islanders clear grocery store shelves of bread and milk before an impending storm, but it seems that in East Greenwich they also stock up on soup.

Some local businesses say they lose three days of business when a storm is forecast.  Customers don’t come in when a storm is in the forecast, the day it hits, or during cleanup on the day after the storm.

However take-out restaurants have a good day before a storm, then see a slowdown on the day it hits.  But the day after, traffic usually gets back to normal. People may not always shop, but apparently they always eat.

At in the CVS Plaza on Main Street Dana Wronski says when the forecast calls for a storm they start stocking up on soup, then watch it fly out the door before the snow hits.  Pot pies are big sellers too.  “It’s just crazy,” she said.

At in Benny’s Plaza, Erica Maddalena says the cold weather generates sales of comfort food and soup sales also spike just before a predicted storm.  Customers grab loaves of bread as well as pizza and calzone and some even take a lot of bags of potato chips.

At on South County Trail, Dean Natale says there is always a jump in comfort foot sales before a storm.  His bread suppliers are good at notifying him about impending weather and getting him stocked up.

If a storm threatens, or actually hits, the second challenge is whether or not to open and whether or not to bring in employees.

The Wronskis can usually get to the restaurant, but their employees come from Central Falls and Pawtucket so decisions have to be made about whether it is safe for them to travel.  

Maddalena, of Wild Harvest, lives near her bakery and café, so can get there safely and then wait to see just what the storm will bring.

Natale tells his employees to stay home if the weather is bad, but he comes in and takes care of a sandwich order he normally gets from the town.  When snow plow crews are working long hours the town alerts him in advance they will need food for the workers.