GREELEY, Colo — Greeley business owners are optimistic that this weekend’s downtown events will aid their recovery after a severe hailstorm that struck on Tuesday night, causing significant damage to some downtown businesses.
The storm sent down hailstones as large as golf balls, overwhelming storm drains, and flooded the basements of many downtown businesses.
One business, Downtown Sound, a record store on 10th Street, was particularly hard hit. Co-owner Dave Cazpenski reported losing over a thousand records stored in the basement, estimating an economic loss of more than $4,000.
“When you're a music lover, you hate to see any music get destroyed, and when an album gets wet, that cardboard, it just disintegrates. It's no good anymore,” said Cazpenski.
Despite the damage, downtown Greeley saw a surge of activity on Friday as hundreds of people attended the First Friday Fest concert series. The annual Greeley Blues Jam music festival, which draws thousands of visitors from across the country every year, starts on Saturday.
These events are bringing in a much-needed influx of patrons to the area.
“More people in town hopefully means more business, and we're a music store and they’re music lovers,” Cazpenski said, expressing hope for a swift recovery.
Downtown Sound will be one of many venues, including various bars and restaurants, featuring blues music and live bands on Saturday as part of the Greeley Blues Jam music festival.
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