Despite being open, many businesses were hurt by last week’s windstorm that knocked out power all over Whidbey Island.

Many shoppers didn’t shop at local businesses because they either didn’t realize stores were open during the power outages or they were busy taking care of more pressing problems.

“We’ve taken a little bit of a chunk this season but we’re pulling it out,” said Lydia Sikes, owner of Whidbey Wild Bird on Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor.

While islanders were reeling Friday from the windstorm that sparked power outages the night before, many businesses were open with employees eager to help shoppers.

“We were actually here on Friday with no power,” Sikes said. She was also disappointed that events that help attract customers downtown, such as the Christmas Village, closed because of the severe weather.

While the businesses were open the shoppers weren’t always here because many left the island to go someplace with power and heat.

“We lost business for a couple of days,” said Laura Apgar, owner of Paint Your World, also located on Pioneer Way.

She said Paint Your World lost business over two days. People were busy on Thursday preparing for the storm and the following day power outages kept people from shopping in the area.

“Nobody came downtown,” Apgar said.

Apgar was disheartened to hear an announcer on a local radio station encourage people to leave the area and shop at malls off the island.

Merchants were anticipating a busy weekend, as it was the last before Christmas weekend. However, the windstorm, with its 65-mph wind gusts, knocked out power to all of Whidbey Island all day Friday. It wasn’t until Saturday that work crews restored power to most businesses on North Whidbey. It was the latest of a series of storms that has knocked out power, closed schools and hurt the shopping season for local businesses.

It all started with a wind storm in mid-November that also cut power to thousands of homes. Then, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, another storm hit that dumped several inches of snow, snarled traffic, and, again, knocked out power to thousands of homes on Whidbey Island.

With no customers and no power, Apgar said she closed around 2 p.m. Friday for the day.

Coupeville stores have also seen business hurt by the recent string of severe weather.

“My take is the whole island is weathering it,” said Deb Crocker, owner of One More Time and Life on the Island, both located on Front Street in Coupeville. She kept her businesses open Friday despite the power outages. She eventually closed when the sun set for the day.

She said people were also busy preparing for the storm and the bulk of the business Friday was from people looking for warm clothing, not Christmas gifts.

While business in November and December typically parallels the business that comes in during the busy August tourist season, Crocker said the weather has made this holiday season similar to the slow winter months of January and February.

Cindy Olson, owner of Aqua Gifts, also on Front Street in Coupeville, echoed Crocker’s sentiments.

“It hurt us,” Olson said of the severe weather, adding that many people assumed that Front Street businesses would close due to the power outages.

She is hoping business will pick up during the final week before Christmas, which falls on Monday.

A similar situation unfolded at the Greenbank Farm’s holiday market that takes place every weekend throughout the holiday season.

Karen Hutchinson, president of the Greenbank Farm Management Group, said the farm was affected by the storm, just like every other business on the island. But, like other businesses, the market ran Saturday despite the lack of power.

“I was amazed,” Hutchinson said. “I couldn’t believe they were willing to keep going.”

She said vendors were wrapped up in blankets to stay warm while they sold their products.

The severe weather apparently hasn’t affected business at the Greenbank market. Hutchinson said the market is ahead of last year. The holiday market will extend its time and be open this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

With the weather calming, merchants are hopeful business will pick up as people do some last-minute shopping before Santa slides down the chimney Sunday night.