This summer's heat hasn't hit every Norman business the same way.
On Main Street, some are dealing with emptier patios and higher air-conditioning costs, while others say more customers are coming in to escape the heat.
Norman has seen highs in the mid-90s to 107 degrees over the past two weeks, with temperatures reaching 100 or higher on eight separate days.
At Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, owner Brady Sexton said the restaurant's patio has stayed mostly empty despite newly installed cooling fans, and AC costs are climbing faster than last year.
"No one wants to sit on the patio, even though we've invested in a lot of new cooling fans and stuff," Sexton said. "They still don't want to sit on the patio, and it's just been a little slower, especially in the daytime. People (are) not out as much."
AC costs at Scratch were actually lower this May and June than the same months last year, but they've been rising more sharply: up about 23% from May to June 2026, compared to about 12% over the same stretch last year. Sexton estimated July’s bill will land near $2,600 — about a 33% jump from June, compared to a 9% increase over the same period last year.
"No change in operations at all. Just a lot more repairs on the air-conditioning units and replacements," Sexton said.
Business is slow from open until sundown, he said. The only regulars still willing to sit outside are dog owners.
"The only people who've been using (the patio) are people that bring their dogs because we have a dog menu, so we have some loyal puppy guests," he said.
The Play Pit has seen the opposite, drawing in more customers as people look for something to do indoors, employee Molly Dodge said.
"We've had a lot more people coming in and playing because it's just too hot to play outside right now … ," Dodge said. "Probably realistically, when it's the hottest, we've had a lot more people coming."
Despite the extra customers, the Play Pit hasn't needed to add staff, Dodge said.
Guestroom Records has felt a smaller impact, but assistant manager Michael Loveland said business has slowed some.
“Maybe in the peak heat of the day — three or four o’clock, three to five — it dips off a little more than it usually would,” he said.
Unlike Scratch, Guestroom hasn't seen higher AC costs.
"We luckily have really great landlords, and they take care of the unit and keep it up to date. And yeah, that's important around here," Loveland said.
The shop has had to warn customers not to leave vinyl records in hot cars, as heat can warp them, and has also started offering water to customers.
Overall, he said, "We're doing okay. It's about the same. There's always an ebb and flow."
At Beanstalk Coffee and Sno’s East Main Street location, employee Diane Ashon said foot traffic — mostly from nearby office workers — has stayed about the same.
"I haven't necessarily seen an extreme difference. We're selling maybe a few more snow cones, but it’s nothing extraordinary," Ashon said.
Cloud cover, she said, affects business more than heat does: "There is definitely a difference between when it's hot and when (it's) overcast theres like nobody here as soon as its overcast, it doesn’t matter if its 100 degrees outside."
The shop has gone through more ice, though Ashon said that's likely just normal for the summer season rather than tied to the heat.
Neighborhood Jam has seen the least change. Manager Andrea Howard said the patio has stayed just as busy, still filling up on weekends no matter the temperature. She said staff working the patio are taken care of.
"They get hot, but we make sure they got plenty of biscuits and water," Howard said.
AC costs and foot traffic, she said, look about the same as past summers: "Nothing significant enough that caught our eye."
This story was edited by Audrey McClour.
