Few business owners brave the rains

As the rain and wind abated yesterday, a small number of stores in Taipei were running their businesses as usual, although most people chose to stay home as meteorologists suggested.

The hard work had mixed rewards, with restaurants drawing queues of customers while most other businesses appeared relatively deserted.

It was difficult to spot an empty seat at the McDonald's across from National Taiwan University (NTU) throughout the afternoon. Street vendors, whose presence usually slows nearby traffic, were nowhere to be found.

Huang Yuh-ching (黃月菁), a student at NTU, said she did not particularly like hamburgers but Typhoon Nari left her with few other options.

Hsiao's Restaurant on Ting-chou Road emerged as another beneficiary of the fierce storm that left some parts of the capital city in flood waters up to 3m deep.

"I see no reason not to do business today [yesterday] since the storm has eased up substantially," one of the restaurant's workers said, requesting anonymity. The 6-figure monthly rent, she said jokingly, was the main driving force behind her diligence.

Siew Hung-li (蕭宏禮), 50, who owns a small noodle stand, was upbeat that the lack of competition would bring in many customers later in the evening as has happened in the past. "It may sound a bit selfish, but I expect to reap gains from the typhoon," he said.

Not all businesses were so lucky, however.

Campus Photo Co, located on Roosevelt Road, chose to stay open on Sunday and yesterday, but few customers set foot in the shop. Hsieh Ruey-pin (謝睿彬), 37, said the downpour has caused his business to drop by 70 percent over the last two days.

He had no complaints about having to work on a stormy day and said that, "At least I don't have to wade into flood-affected areas like the relief workers and reporters."

Hsieh, who has worked for the photo shop for only six months, added that he felt lucky to have a job given the current economic plight.

The nearby Bossini outlet faced a similar situation. Chu Hui-chun (朱慧君), 24, said that Typhoon Nari had led to a 75 percent drop in business yesterday.

Chu, who has worked for the clothing company for 16 months, said that she did not envy government workers who got the day off.

"That is what sets the service industry apart from the civil service," she said. "As long as there are customers, we will be there to serve."

Echoing her comments, Yang Fu-chiao (楊福嬌), who works for the 24-hour convenience store Family Mart, said that she has gotten used to working long hours, rain or shine, over the last five years.

She noted that although Ty-phoon Nari caused a sharp increase in the sales of instant noodles and bottled water, total sales have tumbled by one quarter in the last two days.

Liao Cho-chih (廖佐治), 47, an optometrist at Sun City Glassware, said he would be bored if he'd stayed home.

"I figured I might as well work, as light as business was bound to be," Liao said. "You can't go anywhere on a day like this anyway."