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North End Businesses Take Hit In Snowy Weather

By Beth Germano, WBZ-TV

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Boston's North End (credit: CBS)

Boston’s North End (credit: CBS)

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Reporting Beth Germano

BOSTON (CBS) — The back to back snowstorms have hit some businesses hard, taking away customers who can’t find parking or don’t like walking in the snow and cold.

Boston’s North End neighborhood is feeling the pinch of the snow, with empty tables on a Friday night most restaurants don’t usually see.

“We’ve had snowstorm after snowstorm, it doesn’t help,” said Darnell DiPietrantonio, manager of restaurant L’Osteria. It doesn’t help fill the tables or the reservation book. Business is down because the walking neighborhood has more snowed in cars than walkers.

WBZ-TV’s Beth Germano reports.

“It’s just been really, really quiet,” said Valerie White, who owns the boutique Bobbles and Lace.

When the restaurants aren’t filling up, visitors aren’t around to browse the shops.

White estimates business is down at least 20 percent, with fewer passersby out the window.

“We’re just not seeing the business. Every week we’re slammed with some kind of snow that’s killing our business,” said White.

Even the famous Mike’s Pastry didn’t have the usual line of customers on a Friday night, which is good for people who don’t like waiting. Already limited parking is now almost nonexistent when cars aren’t moving.

“It’s hard to find a spot. I drove around for half an hour,” said John Pezzuto, of the North End.

In the tight neighborhood they’re doing what they usually don’t have to do, lure people in.

“Hopefully Mother Nature will be a little nicer later in January or early February, and it will get a little warmer,” said DiPietrantonio.

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jaygee

Let’s face it, it’s not easy parking anywhere in Boston, especially the North End because I have no idea where they put all of the snow when it falls in the city.
That being said, I will be in Joe Tecce’s tonight for my usually terrific meal. As long as you either valet park or know where to park which might require a 5 or 10 minute walk, it’s no big deal.

January 22, 2011 at 1:04 pm | Reply | Report comment

Kyle

Seems like a silly piece of “news”. Thursday (1/20/2011) was certainly not the normal sight I am used to walking on Hanover street. As expected of weather over a coastal New England city, snow is gonna happen. Businesses should be prepared for it. For the North End, it should mean understanding the lack of business due to “OH you want to get my new shoes all wet, are you crazy?!” customers. It didn’t appear that many businesses featured in the bit were doing particularly poor or going out of business. So congrats news channel, for reporting about the weather and it’s effect on business that we see every year it snows and the snow doesn’t melt away before it snows again. Wait until next year to bother with digging deeper into the scenario.

January 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm | Reply | Report comment

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