By MOLLY DUETT

News Intern

A combination of tax returns and Super Bowl XLVI has meant good profits for many local businesses in Bainbridge.

“It will be our busiest Sunday of the year,” Tanya Sorrelle, owner of the local Domino’s Pizza franchise, said. “We see a huge increase in pizza and wings sales as well.”

Sorrelle said that business usually goes pretty smoothly around the time of the Super Bowl because it is an event that they can plan for.

“We started last week getting ready for this week as far as we’ll go ahead and order the extra paper products — things that are non-perishable,” Sorrelle said. “We have just about double our food orders and I have twice the people working each night; so, we try to be ready and be ahead of it.”

The Super Bowl also means deals for certain merchandise like television sets.

“With the Super Bowl we’re able to mark everything down to move some of the merchandise, and everybody’s wanting to come to get that big screen TV to watch the football games on,” said Elizebeth Cook, sales manager at Aaron’s Lease to Own. “TVs are our biggest sales during the Super Bowl and you do have some people coming in who want to get that new living room set to match that new big-screen TV.”

Cook said the store has rented out about 50 TVs in the past three weeks, with approximately 10 more in just cash sales.

It’s estimated that more than 12 million Americans are going to eat out at a restaurant or bar on Sunday to watch the big game, but in Bainbridge some restaurants lose business to places in Tallahassee, Fla., on Super Bowl Sunday.

Chuck Reeves, Beef O’Brady’s manager, said that he feels he would be able to have a larger crowd on Super Bowl Sunday if the restaurant were allowed to sell alcohol. He hopes that when Bainbridge citizens vote in March, the Sunday alcohol sales ban will be lifted.

A quick survey of local people seem to be less interested in the Super Bowl this year than they were in college football games.

“College boys, they’re playing real football,” Billy Pollock said. “Once they get to the pros it’s about money and showing off. I’m too old for that.”

“I’m not big into professional football — more into college,” said Randy Logue, pharmacist at Bainbridge Pharmacy.

Some citizens are more into the commercials or the party atmosphere.

“I don’t care much for the game, but I’ll watch for the commercials,” Grace Nettles said.

“I’ll watch the game and the commercials,” Brittney Lewis said. “I’m mainly looking forward to the food, the party and everybody fussing.”