Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

'I Truly Believe They Saved Lives': A Target Near Buffalo Hosted Blizzard-Stranded Travelers As Overnight Guests During Storm About two dozen stranded motorists spent the holiday weekend in a Target.

By Erin Davis

Facebook/Jessica Lee
Frozen doors at Target in Buffalo

A Target store in Cheektowaga, New York, was turned into an Airbnb of sorts when it played host to two dozen stranded motorists during one of the Buffalo area's worst blizzards on record, according to The Buffalo News.

One stranded motorist, Jessica Sypniewski, was running what she thought would be a quick errand before the storm (with her boyfriend and two children in the car) when the weather took a turn and the snow began to come down "sooner and heavier than we thought it would," she told the outlet.

After running into white-out conditions, the group turned into a shopping plaza and were turned away from a grocery store, she said, before trying Target — where they were greeted with warm cocoa and blankets.

"I got so emotional, I just sat down and started crying," Sypniewski told The Buffalo News. "You never know. People could have died. I truly believe they saved lives."

A group of seven Target workers was also stranded at the store. They filled carts with inflatable mattresses, linens, water, food, clothes, phone chargers, and personal hygiene items to accommodate what was going to be an unexpected overnight shift for themselves and their new guests.

"They said, 'Anything you need, it's on us,'" Sypniewski said. "'Just let us scan it first.'"

Workers also opened a new TV so everyone could watch the Buffalo Bills game.

Tiktoker Carla Rodriguez was also stranded at the store and posted footage of the experience.

@carlarodxd Stay safe and Merry Christmas Eve Everyone #buffalostorm #blizzard #target Feliz Navidad - José Feliciano

A rep for Target confirmed to the New York Post Monday that nobody would have to pay for anything used during the storm.

"Thanks to the compassion and quick thinking of the team members at our Walden Galleria store, they were able to provide shelter to those who were stranded, and also offered care, comfort, and holiday cheer," said Mark Schindele, an executive vice president with the company. "Their actions are a living example of Target's values and we are thankful to have been able to assist those in need."

The area has since been plowed and guests have made their way out of the store. So far, more than 30 people have died related to the Buffalo-area storm.

Erin Davis

Entrepreneur Staff

Freelance Writer

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

Her Restaurant Business Is Worth $100 Million — Here's Her Unconventional Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, talks about going from TV producer to restaurant owner, leaning into failure and the value of good PR.

Business News

Elon Musk Still Isn't Getting His Historically High Pay as CEO of Tesla — Here's Why

A second shareholder vote wasn't enough to convince Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick.

Legal

How Do You Stop Porch Pirates From Stealing Christmas? These Top Tips Will Help Secure Your Deliveries.

Over 100 million packages were stolen last year. Here are top tips to make sure your stuff doesn't get swiped.

Leadership

Leadership vs. Management: How to Understand the Difference and 6 Ways to Bridge the Gap

Here are the key differences between leadership and management, highlighting their complementary roles and providing six strategies to develop managers into future leaders.

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.

Business News

'Something Previously Impossible': New AI Makes 3D Worlds Out of a Single Image

The new technology allows viewers to explore two-dimensional images in 3D.