JASON DUNOVANT The Roanoke Times
ROCKY MOUNT -- Businesses in Rocky Mount will be hosting the third annual St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl this Saturday. The annual event is expected to bring hundreds of visitors for food, drinks and even some games.
Nine bars and restaurants in the downtown area will be participating in the festivities from noon to 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to walk between each of the locations.
For the participating businesses, it provides them with an opportunity to bring in someone that may not usually visit. Those visitors may later become regular customers.
"We will do over a week's worth of business in one day," said Rob Amos, co-owner of Living Proof Beer Co., which is one of the stops.
Amos said the pub crawls are an opportunity for businesses to showcase the town and what it has to offer. Toni Ratcliffe, co-owner of participant The Crooked Road and Co., said many participants in previous years have visited from surrounding localities.
The St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl launched three years ago when several businesses in Rocky Mount decided to come together to attract customers to the town and their businesses. Its success has led to other pub crawls throughout the year put on by businesses including a Blocktoberfest this past October.
With the creation of the St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl, the participating businesses have found that working together for these big events helps to attract customers. Participating businesses have grown from just six in the first year to nine this year.
Ratcliffe said each of the participating businesses have their own unique style so no two are similar. When one business grows in popularity, it usually brings more customers to downtown and to visit other businesses.
"If they are succeeding, then we are succeeding," Ratcliffe said.
Lauren Young, co-owner of The Alley Cat which is a stop along the uptown area of Rocky Mount, also said it is one of their biggest days of the year. She said their business more than doubled for the day during last year's pub crawl.
Rocky Mount Burger Co. owner Bryan Hochstein said the success of the pub crawl has led to them discussing a possible Father's Day pub crawl later this year.
Pub crawls in Rocky Mount are made possible by a special allowance from the town as a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area event. During DORA events, visitors are allowed to alcohol from one of the bars or restaurants and walk freely through a designated area of downtown with the beverage.
Pub crawl participants can grab a map at any of the participating locations. Participants can also get the map stamped at each location along the crawl. Those that complete the pub crawl can get a commemorative St. Patrick's Day mug.
The nine participating establishments in Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl include Anastasia's Speakeasy, The Crooked Road and Co., Lil' Shabby's Bistro and Bar, Living Proof Beer Co., Olde Towne Social House, The Alley Cat, The Porch and Voodoo Lounge, Rocky Mount Burger Co. and Twin Creeks Distillery.
Each business is also expecting to have a variety of games available for visitors at each stop along the way. The games have been a popular part of previous pub crawls and will be making a return on Saturday with a St. Patrick's Day theme.
Jason Dunovant
(540) 981-3507
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