Chamber Fest reports

Not all of the figures for Deutschesfest are in, but some information was available at Tuesday’s Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Biergarten

Chairman Ted Bruya and assistant chairman Justin Parr reported that the Biergarten gate receipts and kitchen sales were down somewhat from last year, meaning that fewer visitors likely came to Fest this year (something that most in Odessa had guessed based on their own observations). Due to an increase in prices instituted this year, however, the total profits for the Biergarten were about the same as last year.

There were no major security issues this year, Parr said, with security personnel jumping in to diffuse situations before they became more serious.

Bruya said there was some confusion with selling of the souvenir items at the bar. Some of the shift workers, he said, were confused by having to deal with the souvenirs, as well as the bar. Trinkets – necklaces, light-up buttons and the like – were the best sellers, he said, while T-shirts were not particularly popular (being undated, though, they can be sold again in future years). There were many requests for mugs, however, and he suggested that Chamber purchase a new supply for next year.

The Beer Pong tables were not hugely popular, Bruya said, although they did get used.

Other

Other vendors reportedly did well during Fest, with The Kraut Haus selling out of its food, Marlon Schafer said. Unofficial reports also had the hamburger booth and the Heritage Church pie booth selling out. Laura Estes reported that Christ Lutheran Church had 40 whole strudels left in the freezer. Heritage Church was said to have 25 pans of cabbage rolls left.

As more of the final figures become available, The Record will report on them for our readers.

The BabyPhat purse raffled off by LoriLynn White at her second-hand/antiques business, My Sisters’ Closet, during Deutschesfest was won by rural Odessa area resident Kelly (Kissler) Korpinen. The purse was donated by White’s younger sister and is valued at $100. The raffle had 43 entrants, with the proceeds going to the Red Hat Society in Odessa.

White said she did well at Fest, with lots of people stopping by her store. Right now White is running a 50-percent-off sale on all back-room clothing, shoes and purses, in addition to some of her jewelry. After she clears out some of the current items, she will bring in her fall inventory. She also plans to offer 30-day revolving charge accounts for people who cannot pay the full amount all at once.

Editor’s note: More information on Fest will be reported as it becomes available.