SWFL enduring the cold

FORT MYERS, Fla. – For the first time in five years, freezing conditions may hit southwest Florida.

“It is a little disappointing, but if you can get out of the wind to us we are fine with is really,” said Joeff Kise who is visiting from Ohio.

Thursday, Fort Myers Beach was pretty much deserted because of the cold. Every now and then you may catch a runner wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

Some tourists tell WINK News shorts is all they have to wear, because that is all they packed.

“I just brought shorts because I thought I was going to be warm, but this is all I have.”

Depending on who you ask, the cold is very good or very bad for business.

“I would probably say we are doubling our sales in sweatshirts just in the past few days,” said Michelle Schrowe with one clothing store in the island.

But for Kilwins Chocolates on the beach, the cold makes the days go by much slower.

“We have to send all of our employees home and no one is getting all the hours they deserve so it’s not food on anyone,” said Jessica Dean.

Meanwhile, other ice cream shops say they are doing pretty well. Mostly because of people like Kise.

“We tried to go swimming earlier today, but they wouldn’t open up the pool at the park we are staying at, so here we are, getting ice cream,” said Kise.