Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 24, 1992 TAG: 9201240215
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLYNE H. McWILLIAMS BUSINESS WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
LIKE IT OR NOT, THE BOWL CALLS SUNDAY PLAY
Stephen Foster, owner of Stephen's, is planning not to open his Franklin Road restaurant on Sunday night. Instead, he'll be home, watching television. It's Super Bowl weekend."I'm very serious about my business," he said. "This is how I make a living."
But there are no television sets at Stephen's, so Foster figures, based on past experience, it's not worth opening on Sunday.
Charley's, another Roanoke restaurant, usually does well with its Sunday brunch, but manager Lee Miller is not expecting to break any sales records this week, so he isn't adding extra staff.
"We're not going to make any major money, but it's a chance to have fun," he said. The game can be viewed on two sets - a 25-incher and 61-inch monster - and the viewing room is "fairly booked" for the occasion with about 50 to 60 people.
Lee Hartman & Sons Sound Equipment Inc., the only valley store that rents television sets short term, has to fight back the calls it's been getting.
Chris Hall, an employee in the company's rental department, said he's been getting about 25 calls a day from people who want to rent big-screen TVs for the Super Bowl. They normally have four sets to rent, but because of the demand they've borrowed four more from the sales department.
Rent-to-own places such as Prime Time Rentals also have been getting calls about big-screen television sets. But customers must have a 12-month record of doing business with the store before anything as expensive as a $2,500 big-screen TV can be leased, a manager said.
Supermarkets and convenience stores are stocking up on beer and munchies, expecting brisk sales to game fans.
James Boone, marketing manager for the Southland Corp.'s 7-Eleven stores in Southwest Virginia, said the stores set up displays in readiness for the big day. But there's another factor likely to affect business: "It really depends on what the weather is like," he said.
A Kroger Co. spokeswoman said its local stores started last week putting up Super Bowl displays and have been highlighting the game in advertisements. The delis in all area Kroger stores are offering specials on snack trays.
But for folks who aren't 'Skins fan and couldn't care less about the Bills, there will still be some things to do.
Susan Bernstein, a spokeswoman in Spartanburg, S.C., for Blockbuster Video stores, said there is usually a decline in business during football season. That means the prime videos are likely to be available this weekend, she noted.
And Roanoke Valley movie theaters will be open even if their galleries are nearly empty.
Reva Quinn, manager of The Towers Theatre, said things were a little slow on Super Bowl Sunday last year and she expects the same this year. At least there won't be long lines for popcorn.