MANCHESTER — When the White Duck Brew Pub opened four years ago, they thought they’d be packed on Super Bowl Sunday.
They were wrong.
“We learned early that folks want to stay home,” said Andrew Ferran, one of the owners. “They want to enjoy things at their house in their own space with their friends.”
So rather than stay open for just a few people, the bar will close at 2 p.m. on Sunday. But to help with house parties, they are running take-out specials on wings, nachos and sausages. Get your order in by the end of the day on Friday, Ferran said.
“Have fun,” he said. “Go Patriots.”
It’s one strategy for handling what can be an unpredictable day for bars and restaurants. According to The Food Institute, there’s been a rise in the last few years in delivery and takeout on Super Bowl Sunday.
A recent article even noted that for some establishments, business goes down on that day. Experts stressed knowing your clientele.
Steve Casey, owner of The Depot Pub in Gardiner, said the game’s 6:30 p.m. start time means many people won’t stay at the bar.
“If the game was on at 2 in the afternoon we’d be packed,” he said.
Another factor is that temperatures on Sunday are predicted to be extremely cold with 14 degrees as the high.
“It’s going to be one of the coldest days of the year,” he said. “I think people are going to get takeout and hunker down.”
The bar is known for its wings and pizza, with Casey predicting they will do a lot of to-go orders.
In Augusta, Two Maine Guys bar and restaurant is advertising a Super Bowl watch party. They promise to keep the sound on their big screen TVs and will have food and drink specials all night.
“We have a bunch of fresh bone-in chicken wings we’re going to be selling,” said owner Devan Lemar, who took over the bar on Bridge Street in July.
He hopes with the home team Patriots in the big game, it will be a big win for the bar.
“It’s our first time doing it so it’s new to us,” he said. “We’re excited to do it. We’ll see how it goes.”
