Mobile businesses prep for Mardi Gras

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Wednesday night the streets of downtown Mobile were pretty quiet, which is very unusual during the Mardi Gras season. But there was a reason: there were very few people downtown. Wednesday was the one night when revelers get to take a break and get ready for the next six days, which are possibly the biggest days of the Mardi Gras season in Mobile.

Even though it's been cold outside, people have been bundling up and braving the weather to be a part of Mardi Gras.

According to downtown business owners, the next few days will be the busiest, and they're getting ready.

"We're back here icing down beers and we had our beer delivery just now, so we're just trying to get that all so we don't have to wait until the last minute to do everything. And we'll get our heaters in the next couple of days and we'll hopefully get a big crowd and keep everybody warm," said Shannon Harley with OK Bicycle Shop.

Harley said she doubled her normal food and alcohol order, just for the next six days of Mardi Gras.

"I think a lot of people take off this week.They kind of plan on a four day weekend or three day weekend, however it works out for them, and they'll be out in full force. You can't stop them no matter what, I mean I've been downtown for 13 years and I've seen rain, shine. It doesn't matter if it's hot or cold, they're going to come," she said.

Just down Dauphin Street, managers at Wintzell's Oyster House said they had to get a freezer truck to help hold all the food they've ordered.

"We have two big large freezers, but for the amount of food we need, we had to get a trailer to put outside just for this occasion. Just for this weekend alone. We've been trying to get a lot of food in here because we're expecting a lot of people. It should be a real busy day come Saturday and Sunday and we're just trying to get it ready because we know Mobile's coming out," said Albert Gibbs.

Gibbs said employees from other Wintzell's locations will be downtown helping out until Fat Tuesday.

"Everybody's pitching in to help out and make sure the downtown location makes it through," he said.

And with the thousands of people that are expected to be downtown through Fat Tuesday, they're going to need it.

"We're ready. We're ready for Mobile. You need to come on out, said Gibbs.

Thursday night the Stripers parade rolls at 6:30 p.m. There will be 24 parades between Thursday night and Fat Tuesday.