It's Fat Tuesday, which in Western New York means it's Paczki Day.

This year the celebration of the Polish delicacy has a new meaning with every bite. It was snowing all over the region, but you better believe that was not going to stop people from getting paczki on the holiday to celebrate.

That included James Zak.

He's 100% Polish, and was 100% not going to let a little snow stop him from getting his favorite Bavarian cream snack.

"Mother Nature was not going to stop me," Zak smiled.

In fact, he was there at 8 a.m. when Chrusciki Bakery's location at the Eastern Hills Mall opened. For Zak, this is more than a deep fried treat with chocolate frosting and cream. It's a sense of normalcy.

"I'm very grateful that Chrusciki Bakery was open," Zak said. "I can actually come in and sit at a table and not have to wear a mask and enjoy a doughnut with my coffee."

In other words, he can celebrate. For Ania Duchon, the president and owner of Chrusciki Bakery, it makes her smile beneath her mask.

"I mean we were like no, no not the pandemic, and then the snow, but we're here we are it's a little bit of a slower start but we have all day," Duchon said.

They're ready, with 30,000 paczki to sell Tuesday alone.

"I know it's an insane number," Duchon said.

But Duchon says they were going to do whatever it took.

It's been a tough year for everyone, especially on businesses like theirs. Shut down temporarily because COVID-19 kept the restaurant part of their Clarence location closed before it was even open.

The bakery part was open, but on this Paczki Day, Duchon is so grateful to welcome Buffalo in with open arms, and fewer restrictions.

"I think it's so important we keep our traditions alive," Duchon said.

Chrusciki Bakery's Lancaster location is open until 6 p.m., and it's Clarence location is open until 9 p.m.