Many local stores and restaurants anticipate a spike in business this weekend, a welcome relief during winter, which some say is the slowest season for business.
While preparations for Winter Carnival will vary depending on the weather during the four days of festivities, most businesses expect no major operational changes.
Good weather means more alumni, Lou’s Restaurant owner Toby Fried said.
“If it’s not extremely cold and there’s snow, it’ll get people psyched about Winter Carnival projects,” he said.
Fried said that he does not expect for the restaurant to run any differently than it would for any other busy weekend. The restaurant will continue to offer its regular menu, in addition to winter-themed cupcakes made for Carnival weekend.
Though Morano Gelato operates on a limited schedule during the winter, shift manager Aubrey Madison said she expects to see more customers during the weekend.
“The whole town comes in to partake in winter gelato,” Madison said. “It’s a good time for us because we have more people in shop.”
After purchasing a gelato cart last summer, Morano Gelato started to bring the cart and apple cider to various College sporting events, including football and hockey games. The company has considered applying for a contract to bring the cart to some Winter Carnival events, Madison said.
Dartmouth Co-op general manager Don Powers said the store will extend its closing time by two hours for Friday and Saturday of Carnival. The Co-op will also carry Winter Carnival-themed mugs and posters in-store and online.
“If the weather’s great and they don’t cancel events like the Occom Pond Party, we’ll do well,” Powers said. “If there isn’t a lot of snow and people don’t come in, then we won’t really be affected.”
Stinson’s Village Store will have more staff in the store to check IDs and help with restocking, store owner Jack Stinson said. Stinson’s weekly beer tasting events will continue during Winter Carnival, featuring Smuttynose beer on Friday night and Woodchuck Cider and Goose Island beer on Saturday night, Stinson’s wife Donna Stinson, who is involved at the store, said. Food will also be served at the events.
Hanover Inn director of sales and marketing Alex Zullo said the hotel expects to be booked for the weekend. Guests begin reserving rooms for the Winter Carnival in November, she said.
She also said the inn expected to host business meetings.
Molly’s Restaurant and Bar will have more staff present during the weekend to accommodate the volume of people in town, Jennifer Packard, public relations director for Blue Sky Restaurant Group, which runs Molly’s, as well as Jesse’s Restaurant and Tavern, said. Molly’s will also offer additional specials on the menu, which will be posted on the restaurant’s website.
Packard said that she looks forward to the fun, festive environment that follows Winter Carnival.
“We look at Winter Carnival as more than a big weekend — it’s a downtown Hanover event,” she said.
