Many resorts in Tahoe have already closed the slopes due to a lack of snow and in the coming weeks, several other resorts plan to end their seasons too. That's making business down by the lake slower for local stores and restaurants.
We talked to a couple businesses in Tahoe City Monday and things weren't looking too good for them this season, so they're planning on changing things up with the warmer weather.
Oscar Havens is the manager of Christy Hill Lakeside Bistro and he has seen a decline in business.
"There's not happy hour after skiing. A lot of people like to do that and we just don't see any of that,” said Havens.
We talked to Tahoe Dave's Ski and Snowboard Shop a couple weeks ago when the last snow storm brought in more customers, but things have changed since that visit.
"The number of full time employees is definitely less than in years past. And the full time employees may not be getting 40 hours a week. It might be more like 30 hours a week," said Ethan Westwood, the manager.
Ethan Westwood is the manager of the shop and he said it's the fourth year of less than average snowfall and business.
"We had snow in December. Things were starting off good and everybody thought this was going to be the year we broke out of it and that didn't happen whatsoever,” said Westwood.
While Tahoe Dave's depends highly on the winter time for business, they convert the store into a summer beach outlet that sells bathing suits and tennis gear during the warmer months.
And other places like, Christy Hill Lakeside Bistro takes advantage of the summer weather too.
Restaurants are already seeing customers sit out on the patio because of this unusually warm weather, but that doesn't mean business is booming.
"Almost every month this winter we've had people out enjoying the fire pits,” said Havens.
New restaurants like Moe's Orginial barbeque are in their first year and they're trying to draw in more customers to the beach while the slopes continue to dry up. They say it's a slow selling point to come to Tahoe City right now with barely any snow, so they're adding to the menu.
"We do a little bit better of a lunch than in previous years because the mountains themselves are probably under the weather in the lunch department there," said Eric Pilcher, the owner of Moe's.
The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority says that summer is historically the prime-time for foot traffic in the area. So, local venues hope the warmer months will make up for the lack of business in the winter.
