Economic woes suspended at happy hour

EVAN WILLIAMS/FLORIDA WEEKLY Joe O'Shea, a retired union official, at Hide-A-Way Sports Bar's Happy Hour in downtown Fort Myers. The economy might be in the dumps, but last Wednesday around 5 p.m., the Hide-A-Way Sports Bar in downtown Fort Myers was hopping. And Martin Funk, aka Martin the Builder, was on his second beer.

Even though the Dow Jones had plunged another 514 points that day, it didn't show among the Hide-A-Way crowd of mostly blue-collar workers who serve meals, clean up parks, drive taxis and install electrical wiring.

Mr. Funk, for example, he builds waterfalls made of stone. "We were in the sun working all day," he said. "That's why we came here."

The mood was talkative and smiles were seen all around. Financial troubles seemed set aside for the moment, in favor of draft beer that flowed plentifully and cheaply. Sports networks played football games. Later that night, it would be time for the World Series.

"All in all, our numbers are up in the last couple of months," Hide-A-Way owner Art Baker said, adding the weekends are bringing more people walking around downtown than he's seen in a long time. "How good could it be right now? We're not sure. I think if our economy was in better shape, we'd be doing really well."

Some say the crowd comes to Hide- A-Way because of the games. "It's sports driven. That's it," bartender Greg Courtot said. "People watch sports and drink beer."

Others say the completion of construction on First Street is helping business.

"It's been really busy since the road opened up," said Tisha Mason, who hustled up and down the bar delivering drinks, handling the crowd with the intent ease of someone who knows her job well. "Considering the stuff we're up against, we're doing pretty good."

Ms. Mason worked at Ida's Bon Appiteatery across the street before it closed, and she brought many of her long-time customers to Hide-A-Way. "I have loyal people who to see me," she smiled.

A strong following also had bartender Cathi Bifano tending a large crowd around 6 p.m. nearby at The Cigar Bar, where happy hours lasts until 7 p.m. "I love my regulars," Ms. Bifano said.

Another day, another dollar beer

The next day, Thursday, the economic news was grim again. And the scene at Hide-A-Way was the same — only busier. A full bar had spilled over onto the tables inside and to the sidewalk outside.

"Working people stop here this time of night and I enjoy seeing them," said Joe O'Shea, a retired union officer who represented long-distance bus drivers. Now 70, Mr. O'Shea has been coming downtown for 15 years. "I started at the French Connection," he said before sharing his words of wisdom about drinking: "I'll miss work because I drank too much, but I'll never miss drinking because I work too much." He was joking, but the saying has a ring of truth to it.

Tori Woodall, who makes deliveries for Wise Guys Subs & Stuff, added, "I think alcohol is the last thing to go out of your budget. You might skip lunch, but not your beers."

Some beer drinkers, however, might buy a less-expensive brand at the bar or simply pick up a six-pack on the way home instead.

At bars and stores this August, the average person purchased $6.19 worth of alcoholic beverages per visit. That was up from $3.68 in August 2007, according to the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. That's only enough for a cheap six-pack or maybe three happy hour drafts with tip, depending on where you go.

"The economy has an effect on beer sales," said Chris Bina, vice president of off-premise sales for Suncoast Beverage in Fort Myers. "We feel the pinch from the economy as well. What's going on, there has been some trade down, where people trade down from Corona to Bud or Bud Light.

"Also, there's an increase in draft sales, because draft in the bars is cheaper than packaged beer. They've suffered as far as bottle beer sales, but increased as far as draft beer sales."

Hide-A-Way owner Mr. Baker has seen a similar effect on liquor sales. "We're selling about 50 percent liquor to beer," he said. "But our domestic beers outsell premium beers quite substantially. Same with our liquor. Our call or well liquors outsell the premiums."

He's also noticed another trend: more credit card sales.

"I think it's showing me that my customers don't have as much spendable cash right now," Mr. Baker said. "We used to be only about 30 percent credit card. Now we're closer to 70 percent."

At Spirits of Bacchus downtown, manager and bartender Ben Dopp said customers who once drank $8 glasses of wine "are looking for cheaper stuff." And as for his own off-work tendencies, he added, "I pretty much stick to beer or whatever's cheap."

Even though the economy is still bad, the good news is gas prices are almost $1.50 lower per gallon than they were a few months ago. And draft beer in a frosty glass at most happy hours downtown is only $1 or $2. At least by that math, if your tank holds 10 gallons, you can treat yourself to a couple of beers every time you fill up and still come out ahead.