Putting Damper on Things

0

Los Angeles is known for its warm and sunny weather. It’s one reason people flock here to live and visit, and a huge part of the economy is devoted to taking advantage of those clear skies.

The unprecedented amount of rain the region has received this winter has upended the natural order, helping businesses dependent on snow, and hurting others, such as construction and hotels, that count on having almost no rain year-round.

Downtown received almost 19 inches of rain from the beginning of October through March 29, compared with less than 7 inches for the year ended Sept. 30, according to meteorologist Robbie Munroe of the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office. He said the L.A. area might get more rain this month or next, but it would be on the lighter side.

Some small-business owners, used to years of drought, said the rain brought in more customers but they were unprepared to handle the influx and had to turn down work.

The dousing, however, should not be seen as a new normal, said Lawren Markle, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

“I think regardless of the short-term relief from drought conditions, the past few years have shown the region we must prepare for extended dry periods,” he said in an email. “Businesses are adapting and some are even looking for opportunity based on long-term trends, and that is more important than short-term weather patterns, such as this wet winter.”

Both winners and losers are among the many industries that have had their fortunes affected by the rain.

WINNERS

1. Ski retail and services

This year has been one of the biggest in 62 years of business for Doc’s Ski and Sports in Santa Monica, according to owner Doc Sachen, 94. Although Sachen said he didn’t have any financial figures available, he estimated he sold almost triple the amount of winter sports clothes and gear as last year. “We had to stop selling because we ran out of everything,” Sachen said. “They’ll buy anything I have. I had thousands of gloves at the start of the season. Now I have 15.” The heavy rainfall translated into more snow at nearby ski spots, including the town of Mammoth Lakes, which had reportedly received more than 44 feet of snow as of the end of last month. Doc’s service department has also seen three times the volume of work as last year for ski and snowboard repairs, Sachen said. “We’ve been so busy we had to turn work away almost on a daily basis,” he said.

2. Roofers

The rain has been a mixed blessing for Final Touch Roofing in Valley Village, according to Lia Shemesh, who co-owns the business with her husband, Ovi. She said the company had received four times as many calls as it normally receives during the winter, although she declined to reveal how many they usually get or provide revenue. However, the company usually already works at capacity, Shemesh said, so it couldn’t profit as much from the increase in calls. “It’s not only us,” she said. “It’s all roofing contractors. Clients say, Every other person we’ve called said they can’t see our house for three to four weeks.” Shemesh suspects that the rain has made leaks visible that usually go unnoticed. “It takes time for water to seep into the wood,” she said. “There’s been so much rain, it’s kept the area wet.” The rain also reduced the number of days crews can work, since fixing a roof requires opening up the house to the elements. Shemesh expects Final Touch’s busy period to stretch into the summer this year.

3. Asphalt pavers

As with roofs, rain takes a toll on asphalt, especially if not properly sealed. Alanna Polcyn, whose father founded Palmer and Polcyn Paving in Sun Valley, said the company receives about a half-dozen calls a week when it rains, compared with two to three ordinarily. “People tend to put their money in other aspects of their property besides driveways or paving, and those things get neglected,” Polcyn said. “When the rain comes and the asphalt crumbles, you get potholes and tripping hazards.” Polcyn said the company generates $10,000 to $20,000 during a good week. Because the extra calls tend to be from individual homeowners who need small jobs done, the business doesn’t see an increase in revenue, Polcyn said. However, the rain has created more demand for the industry in general.

LOSERS

1. Outdoor restaurants

The patio at Sunny Spot in Venice is usually seen as an asset. But the rain puts a damper on the outdoor dining, which Manager Jesus Boelk said makes up about one-third of the Caribbean restaurant’s seating “A lot of people who come in like to be on the patio,” Boelk said. He said he couldn’t provide revenue figures, but estimated the restaurant loses two-thirds of its business on rainy days.

2. Beach hotels

As tourism has hit record highs for the past six years, L.A.’s hotels have boomed, having an average occupancy rate of more than 81 percent and an average daily room rate of $171.95 last year, according to the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. Those on the Westside are usually among the most in demand but the weather has made them vulnerable this season. The rain has led to cancellations at Hotel MdR, a Doubletree by Hilton in Marina del Rey, said General Manager Michael Kapoulis, who didn’t provide financial figures. “The rain has impacted us,” Kapoulis confirmed. “Who wants to come to the beach while it’s raining?”

3. Construction

The construction industry has also been on an upswing recently with projects in downtown and elsewhere, and an LAEDC report published in September predicted that the industry would continue to grow for the next year or two. But as with roofing, the rain has made it difficult to get work done. “A lot of construction workers have lost work days due to the rain this winter,” LAEDC’s Markle said in an email, though the organization hasn’t quantified the impact.

No posts to display