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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-09-04, Page 3Grand Bend merchants report good season GRAND BEND - Labour Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer and the end of an- other season in Grand Bend. Be- hind them tourists leave memories, friends and sometimes a lot of bad press, but for local merchants they leave cash. Summer again seems to have proven fruitful for many lo- cal proprietors, despite recession and early season fears. "We've definitely noticed a shift in the general Grand Bend tourist pattern," said David Best, owner of Best Restaurant and Homemade Ice Cream Parlour. "But in general, we still had a very good year." Hot weather, especially over the last few weeks of summer, seems to have spurred on many business- es, and not just those selling ice cream. Fast food outlets such as Clincher's seemed to have thrived regardless of initial bleak economic forecasts. "It's been a good solid summer," said owner Randy McClinchey. "The hot weather was definitely great for us." Labour Day also marks the end of summer for businesses which operate from the wooden huts hud- dled in the centre of Main Street's north side. The 'shacks' are usually a marketplace for the season's latest trends and opinions on this sum- mer's sales seem to vary. Scott Bogart, proprietor of Hum- phrey's Beach Sports, again en- joyed a successful season, and will return to his familiar shack May 24. "The hot weather helped us and we had a good season," said the 24 - year -old owner. Bogart also noted that attitude and business experience neem to pay off in Grand Bend. "You've got to put some effort into it if you want to make it work," said Bogart. "Some guys think all they have to do is open up, and those are the ones who didn't fare so well." Over the last few years, Finne- gan's Restaurant has become the place to be on the summer's final holiday weekend, especially for owners of other establishments closing their doors for the season. "They all kind of congregate here for their last night," said Su- san Roche, owner of the Irish pub. "They've finished up and now it's their turn to live it up for a night." Like others in Grand Bend, Roche has noticed a shift in trends. "Grand Bend is a sort of return business place. This year, we didn't have the customers who came and stayed for a week or two at a time. Instead, we had the va- cationers who would just come to the Bend for the day and go home. Weeknights were a little slower in here this summer, but the days and weekends were exceptional. Busi- ness was definitely up this year from last." • Likewise, Jane Musser, owner of the Gables Tavern, also reports a good season and an exceptional- ly busy Labour Day weekend. "Considering the economy, we still did very well," said Musser. The May 24th weekend is always the biggest for business, but this year Labour Day came pretty close." Tithes -Advocate, September 4,1991 Pegs 3 ANSTETT JEWELLERS - EXETER DIAM The 'shacks' were closed up in a hurry Monday evening as + seasonal retailers called it a summer in Grand Bend. Exeter OPP Police investigate nine accidents EXETER - The Exeter OPP were called out to investigate no less than nine traffic accidents in the past week. On Sunday, vehicles driven by James Crown of Grand Bend and Allison Hynd of London collided on Highway 83 west of Hay Town- ship Road 17 when a tire blew on the Hynd vehicle. Damage ranged from moderate to severe. Also Sunday vehicles driven by Kelly Schenk of Zurich and Leslie Schmitt -Pfaff of Crediton collided on Highway 84 west of Hay Town- ship Road 8-9. Damage was light to the Schenk vehicle and severe to the Schmitt vehicle. Schmitt and a passenger, Liana Goldsworthy of Hensall were taken to South Huron Hospital with severe whiplash. Saturday, vehicles driven by Aircraft flips over on runway GRAND BEND - The Exeter OPP were called to the Grand Bend airport on Labour Day Monday to investigate a single engine aircraft crash. Police report that the aircraft was landing at the airport when a sud- den gust of wind lifted the left wing causing the right wing to touch the ground. The plane then flipped over on the ninway. The aircraft, owned and flown by Bruce Philips of London, was damaged on the right wing and pro- peller. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Steve Houle of London and Aiden Shore of Markham collided in the Swoop skydiving parking lot off Highway 81 near Grand Bend. Po- lice report only light damage. Also Saturday, vehicles driven by Brent Davey of Gravenhurst and Michael Steckle of Zurich collided on Highway 21 near the Grand Bend limits. Damage was severe to both vehicles and both drivers sus- tained minor injuries as well as a passenger in the Steckle vehicle, Kevin Gingerich of RR2 Zurich. Thursday vehicles driven by Wil- liam Lee of London and Dirk Schu- ten, RR4 Spencervillc were in colli- sion on Highway 21 north of Grand Bend. Damage was moderate. Also Thursday, a vehicle driven by Christopher Ducharrue` d' RR2 Zurich drove through an intersec- tion on the Hay -Stanley Township line and went into a cornfield. Damage was moderate to the vehi- cle. A vehicle driven by Pamela In- gram of RR2 Hensall went out of control on Thursday when an ani- mal ran in front of the vehicle. The vehicle received moderate damage when it went into the ditch and struck the embankment. . A collision on Richmond Street in Hensall, also on Thursday, re- sulted in light damage to vehicles driven by Gerald Flynn of Hensall and Lone Archer, also of Hensall. Last Tuesday, a vehicle driven by Jason MacNeil of Grand Bend went out of control on loose gravel on i Stephen Sideroad 15-16 and veered into an embankment at the side of the road and rolled over. The driv- er and passenger, Matthew Licrman of Grand Bend, sustained minor in- juries. on sale at 'BLOW OUT" Prices Wed., Sept. 11 until Sat. Sept. 14 DIAMOND EARRINGS #1003101 saes $153 1 GOLD SLEEPER PLAIN $95o PEARL - 10K + SLI&SL6-P 95 $ GOLD EARRINGS 14 STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM $899 SHOULDER ENGAGEMENT ING JWSI #11041 17 • a995-5500 DIAMOND CLUSTER 1111 299M -299P 4996 $50° 1.78 ct TOURMALINE #306 - 8x.015 cts $126.5 $648 18ct.- 18" & 7" GOLD ROPE $109.95 $6595 H534Y18 026 RUBY & DIAMON D #645-7 $s7s $438 ALSO OPAL $ 350 PEARL & DIAMOND #RB839-6 o. II IN ssie $255 SAPPHIRE & DIAMOND + #757-9 fags $398 + ALSO RUBY + $1&6e $575 ,+ +:+ + + + + + + + + + 1 EMERALD & DIAMOND CLUSTER SHOULDER ENGAGEMENT VS2 G/H #1144-16 692 $475 ALL GIFTWARE CLOCKS 3 O% OFF -CLUSTER DAZZLER ae99-5500 • ALL GOLD CHAINS & BRACELETS 4 O% OFF • + ANNIVERSARY + RING + • • • • •+ + • • • • • • • • • #SL929W 4900 -$4 50 ALL SIGNET AND BIRTHSTONE RINGS 3 O% OFF FASHION & BASIC WATCHES Now 30% to 50% OFF All Ring Sizing done while you Wait by Anstett's own Goldsmiths in store + ANSTETT EXETER artd SAT, SEPT, 14 10 a.m.-6 p.m. THURS. & FF1I, 10 a.m. 1 • • • • ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦+♦++++♦+♦