Closed stores, lost revenue
Published 1:03 pm Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By By Lisa Tindell
and Kerry Whipple Bean
Downtown Brewton and East Brewton business owners spent frantic hours overnight moving merchandise and furniture out of the way of rising floodwaters.
But even if their merchandise is safe, it isn’t getting in the hands of customers as long as businesses are forced to remain closed.
East Brewton Mayor Terry Clark said the lack of revenue from the biggest business in the community will hurt the city. The city’s largest grocery store, Super Foods, was closed Tuesday as water flooded the building.
Funds received by the each city with money to pay for services including water, sewer, garbage, fire and police protection, Clark said.
In Brewton, Jacki Lynn, owner of Jacki & Company, is trying to stay positive after seeing her shop taken over by flood waters.
Lynn said looking at the conditions throughout the day on Tuesday put things into prospective on the situation.
Lynn said she is unsure when her shop will reopen.
Across the railroad tracks in Brewton, Terrence Breckenridge said the store had no damage yet — but he wasn’t sure what would happen next.
In East Brewton, Chris McClelland of Bakie’s, said business was good Tuesday but was down a little from normal business.
McClelland said even though the day was good, sales were not as good as usual.
Meanwhile, WEBJ will be off the air for a few days — thanks to a lightning strike the night before the flood.
In Brewton, Rebecca Pintado is worried about items in her shop, Rebecca’s of Brewton.
YaYa’s cafe, which is housed in the same building with Rebecca’s, also took a hit with the flooding.
Pintado said no information has been given on when her family might be able to get in to take a look at damage.