Buffalo, New York, is old and cold. The city dates from very early in the 19th century, and its average January temperature is slightly below freezing. Michael Reed takes it all in stride for two reasons: He’s a Buffalo native, and he’s a plumber. Cold can be good for business.
“It was 8 degrees F yesterday morning,” he said during a February conversation. “We don’t get long stretches of bitter cold, maybe two or three days in a week. But then it warms up into the mid-30s, pipes thaw or burst, and I get slammed with calls. It happens often, usually
