Texas businesses across the state are dealing with significant disruptions and financial losses after a winter freeze left roads iced over and caused widespread power outages. Many restaurants and small businesses were forced to close for several days, cutting off already-thin revenue streams during what is typically one of the slowest times of the year.
In Austin, the owner of the Saving Face medical spa said power outages and thick ice made it impossible to operate, forcing her to shut down multiple locations for two days. Beyond lost appointments, she raised concerns about temperature-sensitive products stored on-site, which can become unusable when electricity is interrupted, losses that could total tens of thousands of dollars.
Similar challenges were reported in North Texas, where Abby’s Bagels closed because employees could not safely travel to work. Without staff on hand to operate kitchens and bakeries, some businesses had no choice but to remain closed despite customer demand.
Industry leaders warn that the timing of the storm makes the impact especially severe. The Texas Restaurant Association noted that many restaurants only keep enough cash on hand to cover one to two weeks of expenses. Losing several days of sales due to weather can push struggling businesses closer to closure. The association is urging Texans to support local restaurants by purchasing gift cards to help offset losses from the freeze.
Source: Spectrum News Texas
Author: Barbara Fox
Original story: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2026/01/27/texas-businesses-feel-impacts-from-the-winter-freeze-