Duluth businesses embrace the deep freeze with fun opportunities

DULUTH, Minn.– When it comes to experiencing the arctic-like air, many businesses decide to close their doors.

However, a few of them around town see it as an opportunity.

“Our hot shop comes in at a nice hot 2100 degrees,” said Katie Timmerman, Director of Operations at Lake Superior Art Glass.

“Even though the ovens are hot, it’s colder than people think when you’re not right at the oven,” said Robert Lillegard, Owner of Duluth’s Best Bread.

Each and every season winter that rolls around, Duluth’s Best Bread leans into the heat it produces inside.

“They go sip a cup of coffee or something and just get out of the cold and be in a warm space. You know, protect people. I think that’s important,” said Lillegard.

Lillegard said, customers will walk in the doors in search of a sweet treat. Such as a cinnamon roll, or a German pretzel.

“It’s a little bit slower before the tourists come back, but people stay bundled up and, you know, eat their food,” added Lillegard.

Meanwhile down at Canal Park, Lake Superior Art Glass in Canal Park always has the heat on.

And they are no stranger to creating the perfect winter get-away, while giving the opportunity to create a work of art.

“Now, when it’s really cold outside, they’re walking by seeing our furnaces and thinking, I should stop in and warm up a bit. And then it’s just great for people to get a taste of what we have to offer here,” said Timmerman.  “We have our wine goblet class make glass icicles; we have a glass. Earrings class, just lots of fun different items.”

And back at the bakery, hot coffee is always flowing.

But for some of the Northlanders, having a chill to their coffee is a must.

“The colder coffees are definitely popular year-round, especially among young ladies. But everybody kind of likes, you know, sweet drinks, but the hotter, the better this time of year,” beamed Lillegard.