THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508060044
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER CHRISTMAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
It might be too hot outside to go jogging, but Outer Banks visitors and residents are making plenty of runs for beer, ice and water.
'Tis the season to be drinking.
Business is booming for local watering holes, restaurants and ABC stores where people attempt to guzzle their sweat away.
``We've been really steady,'' says Jeff Flowers, a bartender at Mulligan's Oceanfront Grille on the beach road in Nags Head. ``The heat is keeping people off the beach, so business at the bar is staying really strong.''
What's the beverage of choice for quenching the summer thirst?
``Cold beer - hands down,'' Flowers says.
``That's the main thing people want. They see it here packed in ice, and immediately that's what they want.''
The three Brew-Thru drive-in beverage stores have been popular with customers who want to stock up without leaving their air-conditioned cars.
But it's not only beer that people are after - it's Gatorade, ice and water, says Julia Scheer, manager of the Nags Head Brew-Thru.
``When it's hot like this you just can't drink alcohol in the sun,'' Scheer says.
``A lot of people come in to rehydrate themselves with the nonalcoholic beverages. We get a lot of construction guys in here all the time. They're all trying to keep from sweltering to death while they're pounding nails all day.''
Scheer says Tropical Freezes, a new brand of ready-made alcoholic frozen fruit drinks, are a big Brew-Thru hit.
``I have a really hard time keeping the Freezes in stock,'' Scheer says. ``Everyone wants them. It's so hot, people want something really cold to drink.''
Cold water is the hot item at the Kitty Hawk 7-Eleven these days, says manager Anna Twine.
``We are selling a whole lot more water recently,'' Twine says. ``I think people are more health-conscious these days. People realize that when it's hot out, you should drink water.''
Ice sales have also crystalized during the recent heat wave.
Mike Thomas, owner of Southern Ice Co. in Kill Devil Hills, says business has been excellent.
``Ice is probably the number one item of the Outer Banks right now,'' Thomas says. ``Sales are up dramatically. It's been a good summer.
``The heat is good to us.''
The heat has also been good for ABC stores.
Jeff Gray, a truck driver for the ABC stores, said the heat has sparked greater demand for alcohol for traditional summer drinks.
``People are buying lots of stuff for margaritas and daiquiris,'' Gray said, while working in the Manteo ABC store.
``We're selling lots of tequila - and that's something we don't sell a lot of in the winter.
``The heat makes people want to drink. We're doing well.'' ILLUSTRATION: [This photo ran only in the North Carolina edition of today's
paper]
Color photo
VICKI CRONIS/Staff
Richard and Karen Chetson, vacationing from Philadelphia, enjoy some
beer at The Rundown Cafe in Kitty Hawk.
by CNB