Beer sales are a strong indicator of rally crowds

By: Thema Ponton | SCNOW
Published: October 01, 2009

One big ticket item during the rallies and perhaps a good barometer on rally size is beer.
In fact, most bar and restaurant owners said during the rallies, beer sales account for more than half their profits.

David Marshlack, owner The Iron Gate and several other bars and restaurants in Horry County said beer accounts for about 60% of his sales. And with fewer people coming to the fall Harley-Davidson motorcycle rally, Marshlack said he's not expecting to make a huge profit. "We're hoping to do 50% down, if we can go that, we'll be fine, we'll be happy with that."

Marshlack said a decline in beer sales has a domino effect on the rest of the area. He said if people aren't here to buy beer, then that means they aren't here to spend money anywhere else. “They don’t spend money in hotels, restaurants, and the people just aren’t here to spend the kind of money they used to.”

Longtime bartender Bobbi Louyakis said she wouldn't have her job without beer sales. "My best rally I made eleven thousand, in a ten day rally, my worst rally, I made three thousand."

Ann Winnard said the money she makes during the fall rally helps her survive the lean winter months. "It gives me financial stability where I can pay off some bills, I can potentially put down a payment for a home, which is something I’m looking at doing and without the rallies, the money simply would not be in this area."

Louyakis said there aren't as many customers at this year’s fall rally than in years past and the ones that do come, have to pay more money. "People don't like paying more because they're used to two dollars for a beer, which was a great deal five or six years ago, not so much anymore, people have to spend three or four dollars for a beer and that's everywhere, that's not just this bar."

Marshlack said sales are down all over, but while they are down, they're not devastated. He says the next couple of days will be a good indicator for him about the future of the rally and its profits.