Tens of thousands of train reservations were canceled<\/a>. At least one Silverton business owner reported sales were down 70%<\/a>. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes and many Durango shops, restaurants and adventure services were hurt<\/a> by less business from fewer tourist.<\/p>\n But things are looking up, Silverton business owners said.<\/p>\n Bill Walko, owner of Natalia\u2019s 1912 Restaurant at the southwest corner of 12th Street and Blair Street, said a strong economy and what he called \u201cpent-up demand\u201d for Silverton tourism caused by the 416 Fire will mix into a perfect cocktail to keep his restaurant full all summer.<\/p>\n Walko said he hired three additional staff members for the upcoming season and plans to hire more. The employees come from all over, he said. Some are Silverton residents, others are students, he said. He has plans this year to participate in a U.S. State Department program offering work and an American experience to foreign exchange students, Walko said. Last year, he employed two students from Romania.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019ll be a good, solid year,\u201d Walko said. \u201cWe want to welcome everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanie Bergole works at the Old Arcade Trading Co. at the northeast corner of 12th and Blair streets, where she has been employed for seven or eight years, she couldn\u2019t remember, she said. She did remember \u2013 with a little help from Facebook \u2013 that fire officials announced a little over a year ago that Silverton was under a Stage 1 fire restriction.<\/p>\n Bergole said she is excited to see snow piles still lining the streets of Silverton, but it\u2019s more the effect it has on the environment that she is happy about, not how it looks. More moisture means a lower likelihood of fires, at least for a few months, she said. And people from arid parts of the country love seeing snow in May, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope we have a good season \u2013 the snow is an attraction in itself,\u201d Bergole said.<\/p>\n But the snow is a double-edged sword, Bergole said. Some areas around Silverton are still buried in snow, especially in the remote areas where hikers like to go, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s such a mess,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Tiffany Dekay, owner of High Noon Hamburgers at the northwest corner of 12th and Blair streets, said at this time last year, she had been anticipating the best year ever. Then, on June 1, 2018, the fire started and derailed her projections.<\/p>\n But with a strong economy and what she said is a low-cost of transportation, Dekay is hoping this year will come \u201con the heals of what we anticipated last year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully, we\u2019ll have enough moisture that the fire danger is low,\u201d Dekay said. \u201cWe did have an epic winter.\u201d<\/p>\n