Commuter Conditions

Atlanta Businesses Open Doors to Drivers Stranded by Winter Storm Leon (PHOTOS)

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Publix serves as a shelter in Atlanta, Ga. for people stranded by Winter Storm Leon. (AJC)

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Publix serves as a shelter in Atlanta, Ga. for people stranded by Winter Storm Leon. (AJC)

It's been close to 24 hours since Winter Storm Leon brought several inches of ice and snow to a number of southern states, and highways continue to be filled with abandoned cars and wary drivers trapped in gridlock. For some commuters the trek home was just too difficult, and they were forced to seek refuge overnight in nearby businesses.

Atlanta-based Home Depot opened 26 stores in Alabama and Georgia, reported CNN, and a limited number of local Walgreens, Kroger and Target stores opened their doors to frozen drivers.

One area business located on Collier Road, an indoor climbing gym called Atlanta Rocks!, rescued two stranded drivers who had abandoned their cars and invited them to spend the night in the gym.

"There's of course the nice rubber flooring and what we call big crash pads, these nice plushy pads," David Turrentine told weather.com. Turrentine is the general manager and came into the gym Wednesday morning with his four-wheel-drive car. "We also have restrooms and water and concessions."

(MORE: Atlanta Residents Still Seeking Route Home After Winter Storm Leon)

Turrentine said the gym's owner, Greg Perry, had known the storm was coming and planned on being in the gym overnight. What he didn't expect was the company.

"I wish we could've done more, but I think in this area it was just those two and another guy who happened to be out here climbing," Turrentine said. "It's kind of a little ghost town over here."

Hundreds of area residents turned to social media outlets to look for shelter. One group on Facebook named SnowedOutAtlanta had more than 46,000 members by January 29 and listed dozens of places where stranded motorists could take shelter.

One Atlanta resident spent several hours on the road, to no avail. Justin Beatty, 22, works at the Turner Broadcasting Techwood Campus and was on his way home when it became clear that driving back would be impossible. Beatty went to a CVS on West Paces Ferry, where the manager said Beatty and some other stranded drivers could stay till midnight, but probably wouldn't be able to sleep there. In the end, the CVS allowed 10 to 12 people to spend the night and Beatty quipped about the experience on Twitter.

"I slept in the Hallmark aisle by some birthday cards," Beatty said.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Winter Storm Leon Brings Rare Snow to Southeast