FRENCH LICK, Ind. — As people traveled from across the United States to marvel at the solar eclipse, small businesses enjoyed the added traffic brought by the once-in-a-lifetime sight.
The town square in French Lick, Indiana was lively with vendors selling everything from homemade fudge to goat milk soap to a handcrafted wooden replica of Thor’s hammer.
Business was booming.
Po Boy BBQ and Catering was one of the many vendors.
“We had no clue what [the eclipse] was going to be, and then as everything built up and built up and built up, we got more and more excited. We’re happy to be a part of it," Bill Villarreal, owner of Po Boy BBQ and Catering, said. "The Chamber has done a great job here at French Lick.”
He said they typically cater NASCAR events but they also do large gatherings, like weddings and birthday parties.
Villarreal said they have been booked for the eclipse for over a year.
On the day of the eclipse, they sold 25 pounds of meat before 1 p.m., -- which equated to roughly 70-80 sandwiches.
"[Sunday] we were really really busy and then today, it’s been twice as busy," Villareal said. "I love it. That’s what we do it for."
Another vendor who stayed just as busy was Brian Blevins, co-owner and founder of Brother B’s Homemade Ice Cream.
“This has been like a train ride. It’s been crazy busy, but this is what we live for. We live for the excitement, we live for being busy,” Brian said.
He was a mechanic for 30 years before his ice cream journey began. He started Brother B's Homemade Ice Cream with his co-founder and wife, Paula.
“Years ago, my grandpa had showed me how to make homemade ice cream, cranking it, and I came home one day in 2020, right before COVID started, and I told my wife ‘let’s buy and ice cream trailer.’ She thought I was crazy," Brian said.
The couple make all of their ice cream homemade -- the same way his grandpa taught him. Brian said it takes roughly an hour to make each flavor. For eclipse weekend, they prepped 75 gallons.
They arrived in French Lick on Friday night and were serving customers on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. or until they sold out.
“We actually went home [Sunday] night by 10 p.m., made some Banana Cream Pie and some Butter Finger because we ran out,” Brian said.
He recommends customers try the vanilla - which is what each flavor is based off of - blueberry cheesecake and the Reese’s peanut butter.
Other vendors at the event included Brew Bean Coffee, Mar Concession and Hayes Lemonade.
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