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Community Corner

Polar Bears Splash, Super Bowl a Boon for Business

Local establishments plan for a big weekend.


With the Long Beach Polar Bears Club taking their annual wintery splash in the Atlantic and the New York Giants playing in Super Bowl XVLI on Sunday, local restaurants expecte to receive an economic boost from those recovering from their icy-cold revelry and game-time frivolity. Some establishments are even getting an early start.

Tom Corning, owner of Minnesota’s at 959 West Beech St., said the party will commence this Friday with Mike and Richard Maglione who have attended the Giants’ playoff games from Green Bay to San Francisco, who will serve as guest bartenders from 6 to 10 p.m.

Their tips and money made from sales of “Batchagaloop” T-shirts will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the beneficiary of Sunday’s Polar Bears Splash. Batchagaloop Jones is a fictional Giants lineman created by Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton, hosts of the Boomer & Carton radio show on WFAN 660AM.

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Minnesota’s helped sponsor the Long Beach brothers’ trip to San Francisco, where they watched the Giants defeat the 49ers in the N.F.C. Championship game two Sunday’s ago, in exchange for promoting their business on the popular radio show.  

“We gave them some drinking money,” Corning admitted. “It’s kind of a goof but it’s fun.”

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At the same time Friday evening, the Polar Bears Club will sell their sweatshirts at the West End establishment. Corning noted that the turnout for the Super Bowl following the afternoon splash, which features up to 5,000 participants and as many spectators, is tremendous. “They come out before and then come back after,” he said.

With the Giants in the Super Bowl, the crowd couldn’t get any bigger, with one exception. “Tied in with the Giants, it couldn’t be better unless they were playing the Jets,” said Corning, who hopes for a Giants victory party that would last until 3 a.m.  

Across town at Sutton Place, at 124 W. Park Ave., owner Rob Richards said that starting at 10:30 a.m. Sunday his restaurant-bar will hand out complimentary bagels, hot chocolate and coffee to the Polar Bears crowd before they hit the beach.

“The Polar Bears come in before and after,” he said. “To warm up before the big plunge and come back for a big brunch.”

Richards, too, reports that between the splash and the Super Bowl, the crowd at his place has been outstanding. “[The crowd will] definitely be bigger with a New York team in there,” he said.

In preparation, Sutton is taking reservations. Patrons can choose to pay $60 per person for drinks and choice appetizers throughout the game. 

“We’re open until the last person leaves,” he said. “If the Giants win, it will probably be a little later.”

Down the block at Laurel Luncheonette, at 300 W. Park Ave., owner Andrew Loucas is preparing for a boon before and after the splash, as participants show up at the diner before their frigid swim to load up on calories and hot liquids.

“We get a good amount of people early in the morning,” he said. “They fill up on a lot of carbs, hot chocolate and pancakes.”

Loucas, who bought the long-established luncheonette six years ago, noted that the event is always a good push for business.

“It’s good money maker for us,” he said.

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