Heat Wave Takes Out Earth & State AC

Temperatures boiled up to 94 degrees at Earth and State in Media over the past four business days, finally coming to an end on Monday.

Last Tuesday, the stifling heat defeated the artistry store’s outdated central air conditioning unit. The shop, located on West State Street, remained open for business, continuing to provide pottery and crafts for customers who both could and could not stand the humid atmosphere. The shop’s new HVAC system was up and running around noon on Monday, as it reported on Twitter.

The tweet posted at 12:37 p.m. on Monday read: “Wah Hoo! We have air! (Insert happy dance here.) It's a cool 79 in here & getting cooler by the minute. Yippee!”

Owner Heather Arata updated the store's Twitter feed frequently over the past week, noting a 20 percent discount offer due to the temperatures on July 20.

Arata said that the store accommodated customers willing to brave the heat with cold beverages, and she imbibed quite a number of Gatorades and electrolyte-infused beverages during repairs.

“We were very delirious —probably pretty silly,” she said. “It was really hot, the kind of hot that makes you nauseous and you're just out of it. We were definitely goofier than normal."

She tweeted similar humorous optimism on July 19.

“I think we've moved on from punch drunk silly to full on lethargic. #havemercy”

The shop kept air circulating with a total combination of eight fans, both owned and borrowed. Arata added that she still took several trips to the 320 Market Cafe next door to cool off.

“It definitely hurt [business] a little bit,” she said. “Most people were understanding and if they needed to make a purchase, they made a purchase.”