‘10% of normal business’: Skykomish economy suffers with highway closure, but shops remain open
Dec 22, 2025, 5:00 AM | Updated: 2:49 pm
The town of Skykomish has been dealing with intermittent power outages as crews work through downed trees and rough terrain to restore power.
Severe storms have wrecked the region and left businesses struggling in the town that is usually a pitstop on the way to Leavenworth.
“It’s kind of a great ski stop or place to stay closest to the pass, but it’s also a great stopping point, probably even more stopping point for folks that are going to Leavenworth and beyond,” Henry Sladek, who owns the Cascadia Inn in Skykomish, told “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.
He noted that with the highway closure, people can get to Skykomish but can’t go past. Therefore, business has dwindled.
“The town has been pretty quiet. I mean, there’s pretty much just locals around, and the businesses that are open, all of us are open. Even with the power out. We have generators. We’re all pretty used to running that way. But as you can imagine, I have 10% of the normal business that’s going on here,” he said.
Henry noted there is a creative arts maker space and gallery open, a cafe open four days a week, a deli out on the highway, a nice coffee shop on the main corner, and a pub down the street from the inn.
“All of us are open and operating on generator, so there’s lots of places to come and get warm for locals, and locals all help each other as well,” he said.
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
