TWO RIVERS, Wis (NBC 26) -- It's starting to feel a lot like summer out there and with businesses starting to open back up, some shops that specialize in getting people outside are hoping customers will return to shopping in person.
This spring marks 20 years since the Unique Flying Objects store in Two Rivers opened its doors. But it was just a couple of short months back that this shop's fate was being questioned.
"To be honest with you it was panic. Because all of a sudden all kinds of bad negative scenarios run through your head," says Chow Chong the owner describing the stress involved with shutting his doors to the public.
Chong says two long months of being closed was terribly stressful. But thanks to many customers purchasing gift cards and even buying his products online during the shutdown, Chong says he managed to land on his feet when they opened back up.
"We've been really blessed and lucky to have the support of the customers."
And while many businesses are struggling right now to convince customers to come back in, Chong says the safer at home measure and our increasingly nice weather has made making a purchase like a kite a pretty easy sell right now.
"I mean it's just you and the outside, in a field or at the beach, and just having the kite up and enjoying watching it.... that to me is one of the outlets during this time."
So if you want to brighten up your day with a splash of color that you can toss in the sky, remember that the Unique Flying Objects store is open and their looking forward to seeing you as they draw in closer to 21 years in business.
"Knock on wood, we will ride through this and I think we're going to be okay. I'm optimistic."
