Winter storm financial freeze lingers for Effingham County businesses

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Communities across the Coastal Empire are thawing out after a blast of winter weather this past weekend, but for some local restaurants, the financial chill is lingering.

In Effingham County, several businesses were forced to shut their doors due to snow, ice and hazardous road conditions, prioritizing safety over sales.

District Square, a Springfield community-centered food hall that houses multiple restaurants, closed throughout the weekend as icy conditions made travel unsafe for employees and customers.

Jordan Scarpitti, general manager of District Square, oversees daily operations for the small businesses inside the food hall. She said the decision to close wasn’t easy—but it was necessary.

“So there was ice everywhere,” Scarpitti said. “I was literally driving 40, 30, even 25 miles an hour because you could see the different color in the ice. I was definitely nervous.”

During the winter storm, Scarpitti said staff safety came first, especially since several employees are minors.

“It did impact business really hard,” she said. “But we made the responsible decision to close because we do have minors who work here. For their safety and the safety of our other employees, we thought it was best to close and make sure everybody got home safe.”

Businesses inside District Square felt the effects immediately.

Amy Whitehurst, owner of the Just Love Coffee kiosk, said the unexpected closure resulted in a significant loss during a critical time for the business.

“It was a little bit sad for us that we had to lose two days’ worth of business when we’re just getting started,” Whitehurst said.

Effingham County Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Clint Hodges said conditions have improved since the weekend, though some hazards remain.

“There are a few small areas of ice that could continue until tomorrow,” Hodges said. “We’re just asking everybody to be diligent—pay attention, drive a little slower—and everybody should be OK.”

As businesses reopen, District Square and Just Love Coffee are hosting specials and events this week to help recover lost revenue from the storm-related closures.