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Jordan Travis
Mondays, the weekly subject of grumbling as well as a staple of radio morning show sarcasm, can be fun. Any number of activities are possible on a day commonly associated with the start of the work week, including ones more commonly associated with the weekend. An after-work walk in the park? No problem. A lunch-hour swim at a nearby beach or gym? Bring out the swimsuit. A trip to the bar? That may seem like more of a stretch to some. By Monday the lines for East Lansing watering holes have long dried up. But bars and restaurants that serve alcohol have ways of keeping the customers coming, and some have more than just a trickle of sales. One such place is the Roadhouse Pub. Located on Harrison Avenue just north of the restaurant of similar name, the Harrison Roadhouse, the business serves as a hangout for those more focused on draft beer than dinner. A popular strategy with drinking establishments, the Roadhouse Pub offers discounts on weeknights, with a different beverage or menu item discounted for each night. Mondays are no exception. Happy hour at the Roadhouse Pub had a quiet start on the 31st of March. A light rain had started to fall at 4:15, and sporadic thunder occasionally pushed through the sounds of the radio and bartender Abby Warszawski preparing for the day. As she replaced straws, she explained why she wasn’t unhappy to be working on a Monday. She works five days of the week from the day prior, she had worked during a special event, making $500 in sales. The difference of $100-$200 less in sales on most Mondays shows the difference in size of the two respective crowds. “Mondays are definitely the most relaxed,” said Warszawski, as she cut lemon and lime wedges for a newly arrived customer. “I definitely don’t mind after a busy Sunday,” she said. A small crowd had gathered at the pub by 6 pm the same night. Two women conversed with a man who stood near the counter, while three men played darts in a far corner. The pub’s 10 televisions, all silent, showed a varying lineup of sports, including the opening-day baseball games. Three men seated at the bar broke their conversation in order to drink a round of shots. One of them, Allen Baerman, explained that he was there mostly to see his girlfriend, Warszawski. The pool tables and arcade games didn’t hurt, either. “I am addicted to bar games, such as darts and Silver Strike Bowling,” he said, naming a bowling video game. “I’ll probably go join those guys in darts,” he said. The Roadhouse Pub isn’t the only East Lansing bar to offer happy hour specials or Monday drink deals. Baerman explained that the pub had a relaxed atmosphere compared to other bars in the area. “There are no conflicts here,” he said. “If someone gets too drunk, starts acting up, everyone will tell him to calm down. It’s a good group of people.” Questions? Comments? Contact Jordan Travis at travisj5@msu.edu
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