Local businesses in Huntington are open despite the amount of snow that has covered the area.

Even though employees cannot make it to work and customers do not want to leave the safety and warmth of their homes, Brandi Smith, McDonald’s crew trainer, said the drive-through lanes of local fast-food restaurants are staying busy.

“The first night of all the snow we closed the lobby an hour earlier than normal, but since then we’ve had regular hours,” Smith said. “We get a lot of cars in the drive-through and a lot of students.”

Smith said on the first night of snow, nearly all the other businesses on Fifth Avenue closed early except for McDonald’s and Cook Out. They were very busy because they are the only businesses on the Marshall side of the strip open late into the night.

Marco’s Pizza on Fifth Avenue has been busy, and according to delivery person Mitchell Bennett, the lunch numbers have been increasing because no one wants to leave the safety of their homes.

“It takes a little bit longer to deliver pizzas because the roads are so bad and because most delivery guys have cars,” Bennett said.

Business owners are preparing to keep their businesses open despite the amount of time the snow will stick around.

Caitlin Fowlkes can be contacted at [email protected].