Local shoppers flock to stores ahead of weekend storm

Many stores in the Colorado Springs area were busy Friday as people stocked up on food and other supplies before a major winter storm arrives on the weekend.

Two stores at 19th and Uintah streets, Ace Hardware and King Soopers, were especially busy and expect brisk sales to continue Saturday morning before the worst of the storm hits.

Bags of ice melt ran low before Ace received a delivery restock in the afternoon. Shovels and ice scrapers also were popular, particularly plastic shovels for wooden decks.

“I’ve never used ice melt,” said shopper Trevor Curtis. “I just always used a shovel.”

Luke Hancock, another shopper, said he wasn’t expecting King Soopers to be so busy.

“It was insane,” he said.

Several shoppers said the coming storm reminds them of a similar storm during the 2006 Christmas and 2007 New Year’s holidays, when milk, bread and other products were in short supply at stores for several days.