Triangle Restaurants Devastated by Back-to-Back Winter Storms

Owners say they lost tens of thousands in revenue from being forced to close on key weekend days during an already slow month.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:31pm

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Restaurants across the Triangle region of North Carolina were hit hard by recent winter storms, with owners reporting losses of tens of thousands of dollars from being forced to close on key weekend days during an already slow month. The back-to-back storms, which occurred in January, caused significant financial strain on businesses that rely heavily on weekend traffic and tips for their staff.

Why it matters

The restaurant industry in the Triangle area was already in a precarious position due to the country's economic climate, and these unpredictable weather events have the potential to push some establishments 'over the ledge.' The losses suffered will make it difficult for these restaurants to recover and invest in growth opportunities.

The details

Restaurants like Ajja in Raleigh, Alley Twenty Six in Durham, and Barsa in Durham all reported losing 80% or more of their normal weekend revenue when they were forced to close due to the winter storms. Owners say the timing was especially devastating, as January is already the slowest month of the year, and the closures happened on Fridays and Saturdays - which make up 60% of a typical restaurant's business. The lost revenue impacts not just the businesses, but also the staff who rely on weekend tips as a major portion of their income.

  • The first weekend of snowstorms in January 2026 forced restaurants to close.
  • The second weekend of snowstorms in January 2026 also forced restaurants to close.

The players

Cheetie Kumar

Owner of the popular Raleigh restaurant Ajja.

Shannon Healy

Owner of Alley Twenty Six in Durham.

Chandra Yadla

Owner of Indian restaurant Barsa in Durham.

Shawn Stokes

Owner of Luna Rotisserie and the newly opened Hops & Flower in Durham.

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What they’re saying

“We had a similar situation last winter in January and February, and it took us seven months to recover so much loss.”

— Cheetie Kumar, Owner

“If [the winter weather] happened on a weekday, it would have been expensive. Happening on Friday or Saturday, it's devastating, because the weekend is 60% of our business.”

— Shannon Healy, Owner

“The weekends are the money that fills out the payroll and fills out the rent and everything. Nothing like being closed changes the payroll, and nothing changes the rent, insurance, and all those things for that month, so the weekends are the big thing.”

— Chandra Yadla, Owner

“When an industry is in a precarious position, as the restaurant industry is right now, then it's these types of unpredictable and unforeseen circumstances that can kind of push them over the ledge.”

— Shawn Stokes, Owner

What’s next

Healy said he hopes to be 'back where the restaurant should be' by May, but will need to be tighter with cash on hand, limiting his ability to invest in growth opportunities.

The takeaway

The back-to-back winter storms have dealt a devastating blow to Triangle-area restaurants that were already struggling with the country's economic climate. Owners are hoping for steady business in the coming weeks to help them recover from the significant losses incurred during these key weekend closures.