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Hardware Store Owner Hopes Snowstorm Brings Profits

CHICAGO (CBS) -- With snow in the forecast, the owner of a Bridgeport hardware store has his fingers crossed.

WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, at Windy City Hardware, at 33rd and Halsted streets in Bridgeport, the snow shovels were not exactly flying out the door on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday's expected snowstorm.

"You know, normally we'd have snow already on the ground, and I'd have a couple skids of salt waiting to go, but there's no snow," said owner Jerry Masterson.

Hardware Store Hopes Snowstorm Boosts Sales

Typically, when snow is in the forecast, people go out to buy shovels and salt. Do they lose their shovels every year?

"That's the question. Probably broke it. Depends on how hard the snow was," Masterson said. "They'll buy a plastic shovel, and try to break the ice with it, and it just doesn't work."

He figures more people will start coming in to buy supplies when the snow is on the ground.

"This year, I'm seeing that they're going to wait until it hits. I think the economy is poor, and therefore they're holding onto their money," he said.

Generally, business hasn't been good for Masterson's store for the past several years.

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