The chilly temperatures are a rude awakening after the spring-like conditions we saw this weekend and over the past couple of days
But the change in the weather can also be a headache for businesses who rely on the foot traffic warmer weather brings.
On Wednesday, plenty of people lined the popular City Market area. By Thursday, people were bundled up, rushing to get out of the cold and leaving businesses yearning for the warm weather to come back as well.
Old man winter isn't sure if he's ready to leave yet. One day Downtown Roanoke's outdoor tables are packed, the next, everyone is dealing with the balmy to blustery transition, and people are ready for the warm to stick around.
Roanoke resident, Mike Dullaghan told WDBJ7, "Even my kids today were complaining as we headed off to school about how they saw some snow in the forecast in the next couple days and they were not happy about it."
Doug Kidd, also a Roanoke resident enjoyed last weekend's unseasonably warm weather. "It sure was nice this weekend for the St. Patrick's Day parade." "The weather was awesome everybody was kind of upbeat then all of a sudden we get blasted with this cold."
And that spring like weather brings local restaurants like Beamer's 25 a blast of good business. Nice weather brings folks out. The longer they soak up the rays, the more they spend.
"Typically we get real busy. Folks are real excited about a break in the weather," Thomas Edgerton, Beamer's 25 General Manager, told Your Hometown News Leader.
"It'll be 30 degrees one day and 60 the next and the next day our patio's full. So, it's great for business," said Edgerton.
But what's not good for business is when a walkable city like Roanoke faces gusty winds and chilly temperatures. Those at Awful Arthur's Downtown see a different trend.
"When it's cold and the weather is bad it definitely does a damper on our business," said Awful Arthur's waitress, Jessica Houseman.
