Businesses shut it down as Francine chases away customers

We expect Hurricane Francine to make landfall this afternoon or evening. The storm has already chased away patrons of some local businesses, and business owners have battened down the hatches.

At the Rusty Nail in the Warehouse District, bar manager Nathaniel Sprague they'll be clearing the patio, "bring everything inside, plants, everything like that, indoors, lights, and things that can get damaged."

He says they'll stay open as long as the weather allows it, but the pending landfall of Francine has understandably slowed business.

"Probably call it a little but early if that's the case and just see everybody on Thursday," said Sprague.

In the French Quarter at the Schooner Saloon, bartender Rachel Watkins said it's been slow, but not dead.

"Obviously ,we still have people getting their pre-hurricane cocktails," she commented. "Everybody's just kind of watching and feeling it out and see what's gonna happen so they're out doing their own thing right now."

Watkins says everyone hopes this storm will be a fast mover, and not linger long enough to do major damage.

"Mostly some rain and uneventfulness and we can always get back going to a regular Thursday," she hoped out loud.