'Winter Warriors' patrons brave cold to dine outside at downtown Ann Arbor restaurants

Matt Bourbina of Ypsilanti braves the cold to enjoy a beer with his friends outside the Jolly Pumpkin on South Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor Saturday afternoon during the first “Winter Warriors” promotion.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

“It’s been full for almost the whole day,” Grizzly Peak Brewing Company General Manager Chris Carrington said. “Everyone’s loved it.”

Grizzly Peak, along with other participating restaurants, offered $2 draft beers and $1 hot drinks to outside patrons who, bundled from head to toe, did not seem to mind the day’s gusty winds and below-freezing temperatures.

“It’s a beer enthusiast’s dream,” Ann Arbor resident Jo Po said. “People will endure the elements.”

With eight participating restaurants and breweries, people came prepared for the day, some toting blankets and extra gloves to stay warm while making the rounds.

Wearing a coat, knitted scarf, wool sweater, blue hoodie, sheepskin gloves and boots all over two pairs of long johns, Ann Arbor resident Gail Christopherson made sure nothing came between her and the beer specials.

“I have to admit, I thought to myself it could be really dangerous,” she said. “But I haven’t seen anyone that looks uncomfortable.”

In addition to the restaurants, many downtown retailers offered discounts to “warriors” who brought in their receipts. Some stores, however, found the day more successful than others.

“We haven’t seen any (warriors),” Jessica Rodriguez, a sales clerk at Acme Mercantile said. “It’s not been so great.”

The store at 111 W. Liberty St. was offering 20 percent discounts to Winter Warriors patrons plus free buttons. But as of late Saturday afternoon, Rodriguez said she had not even given away one button.

“It’s been a decent day in general,” she said. “But it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with (the event.)”

Carillon Chocolates, located at 330 S. Main St., offered buy one get one free cups of coffee and ice cream cones.

Though sales clerk Violet Whitney said only five “warriors” had stopped by the café by late afternoon, she said the downtown event was good exposure for them.

“I think it helps bring people in who haven’t been here before,” she said.

While many of those outside said they came out solely to drink, there were a few who used the day for both the cheap beer and the shopping discounts.

Beth Herbert and friend Mike Swift visited both the Arbor Brewing Company and Grizzly Peak for the beer, but made sure to take advantage of the discounts at Schakolad, Carillon Chocolates and Moosejaw in-between.

“We just figured the whole point of this was to boost the local economy,” she said. “It’s been fun, it’s something different.”