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Local businesses see drop-off from last year

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - March 20, 2012, the sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, and people couldn't get enough of the spring West Michigan air. Fast forward a year to today, and it's a snowy, windy day in the 20's.

"So much for the first day of spring," said Chris Sobieck, general manager at Thornapple Point.

He says this is the first time in 13 years the golf course hasn't been open by this time of year.

"We've had a few of the members stop in. They're ready to go. They want to start golfing," Sobieck said.

Exactly a year ago today, about 150 golfers took to the course to enjoy a beautiful day in the 80's. Today, it's covered in snow.

"At 45 (degrees) we can open but that's still not really golf weather," said Sobieck. "We're looking for that 60 degree weekend stuff."

Restaurants like Cinco de Mayo in downtown Grand Rapids would love a warm-up too. Server Araceli Perez says when it's cold and snowy, no one stops in.

"Very slow today," she said.

By 2 p.m. today the mother-of-four had served only a handful of tables.

"Do you have to cut back in your life?" we asked her.

"Oh my God, definitely. Big time. On everything," she said.

She remembers this time last year fondly.

"Busy all the time. It was awesome. That's why I'm hoping, the weather, when it changes, it gets better," she said. "It probably will once we set up our patio."

Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Kalamazoo all had highs of 26 degrees today. In Grand Rapids last year today, it was 83 degrees. Battle Creek saw 81 degrees, and Kalamazoo enjoyed 84 degrees.