El Nino weather hurting local businesses

Recent El Nino generated storms are hurting the profits of many Central Coast Businesses.

“Last night we only had eight people in house,” said Jeni with the Village Inn.

The Village Inn in Carmel, California said soggy weather is dampening their profits.

Business has gone done about 40 percent because not many people want to spend money on a soggy weekend getaway.

“A lot of tourists like coming out here to the beach,” said Jenni. “When they come here they’re like it’s not really beachy weather to go out to the beautiful beach we have.”

A few blocks down from Village Inn, other businesses are experiencing the same thing.

“It was really slow for a while when it was really storming,” said Mahala Cardinalli, hostess for A.W. Schucks Cocktail and Oyster Bar.

The restaurant told KION when it’s sunny outside they’re constantly turning tables, but the customers dry up when it’s wet outside.

“It will be raining and nobody will be in town, everybody will just be out in their houses,” said Cardinalli.

Monterey Bay Sailing on Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California said the series of storms have caused an 80 percent drop in foot traffic.

“Since we got this El Nino year we need the rain, we all understand that,” said Dan Frank, manager of Monterey Bay Sailing. “So this year I guess we have to struggle through it.”

But sometimes the rain has a way of doing the exact opposite.

Instead of keeping customers away it brings them in.

“A lot of the customers will come rushing into our restaurant for shelter from the rain,” said Cardinalli. “They want to come in for like drinks and food.”

Some tourists we talked to say no matter rain or shine they’re sticking to their travel plans.

“We brought two umbrellas,” said Martin Gonsalves of Antioch, California. “It’s gonna rain at home, it might as well rain in Carmel while you’re here.”

Businesses say traffic will most likely pick up after spring break and daylight savings time, because we’ll earn an extra hour of sunlight.