Game is boon to grocery stores

January 29, 2001

Game is boon to grocery stores

By KIMBERLY YAKOWSKI / Staff Writer

Super Bowl Sunday is a holiday for area retailers.

Managers from Weis, Martin's and County Market all said their chips, pretzels, nachos and soda were hot sales items Sunday afternoon as shoppers prepared for Super Bowl XXXV parties.

County Market manager Ron Long said they "plan around the holiday," stocking up on snacks in anticipation of brisk sales.

Many party-planners were buying seafood, vegetable and meat platters, said a manager at Martin's on Wesel Boulevard.

Dessert items were also big sellers, according to Long.

At Weis Market, football-shaped cakes and cupcakes decorated with logos of the two Super Bowl teams, the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants, were on display.

Mindy and Mike Wade of Hagerstown were busy Sunday afternoon at Weis buying their weekly order, along with Super Bowl snacks.

Big Ravens fans, the Wades said they planned to settle down with family members to watch the game.

Their Super Bowl Sunday menu included pizza, nachos and salsa.

Carol Walsh of Hagerstown said her husband, Bill, waits all year for the Super Bowl. A Ravens fan, he planned their party guest list, menu and rented a big-screen television for the event.

On Sunday afternoon she filled her shopping cart at Weis Market with pizza supplies, chips, shrimp, soda, cookies and crackers. She also threw in paper plates and napkins for easy cleanup, she said.

"I want to enjoy the game, too," she said.

Once shoppers filled their cupboards with chips and pretzels for the Super Bowl parties, many headed to area liquor stores for beer and wine.

Sales at Central City Liquors on West Washington Street were steady all day, said manager Allen Burkholder.

He said many shoppers came in for beer, and imported beer was popular, he said.

A clerk at Terrace Liquor on Pennsylvania Avenue said his customers have been buying all kinds of beer and wine for their parties.

As early as 2 p.m. people began calling in party orders for pizza at Pizza Hut on the Dual Highway, according to a clerk.

She said the store stocked up on supplies and had extra delivery staff on hand to keep up with orders.

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