Features BUSINESS & MONEY
TECHNICIAN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 • PAGE 5
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any University students have wandered into Melvin’s and tried their legendary hamburgers, but they may have overlooked their next-door neighbor while grabbing lunch. 5-O-Clock Sports Bar is nestled right beside Melvin’s Hamburgers on Hillsborough Street. Often students can be found enjoying their favorite beverage and playing in one of the bar’s cornhole tournaments. Elyse Kline, N.C. State alumna, can be found behind the bar greeting people with a smile and making sure that no one gets thirsty. “I love still having that closeness to the N.C. State community,” Kline said. Kline said she knows all of her regulars by name, but it isn’t her memory that has them coming back to this watering hole again and again. She doesn’t just make everyday small talk with the patron’s, but instead engages them in thoughtful conversation. She took the bartending job at 5-O-Clock with the hopes of making it more college friendly. To reach out the student population, Kline communicates through social media networks. The bar’s information can be found on Facebook and the site regularly posts upcoming events and specials. Occasionally, Kline will get a special visitor patrons of 5-O-Clock love to see walk by. Ruckus, her adorable — and massive — rescue dog will sometimes stop by outside for a drink of water when out for an evening stroll with one of Kline’s friends. If people hadn’t stopped by to play cornhole, check out the evening’s specials, or to chat with Elyse, then they are definitely going to stop outside to pet Ruckus. Kline has managed to create a family-like environment from behind the bar. Clientele get to know her and the people sitting beside them. It’s the kind of environment where a patron can expect at least one person they know to ask how the latest test went or how school is going. “I heard good things about Melvin’s Hamburgers and I like being able to sit down at 5-O-Clock and watch the game or talk to friends,” Matt Roberts, a junior in mathematics, said. The bar not only offers drink specials that are budget-friendly for college students, but Melvin’s Hamburgers are also available for order. “The prices are amazing too,” Roberts said. Kline said she does a lot of marketing on campus. Every now and then she can be spotted on campus posting flyers to let students know the latest news at 5-O-Clock. Her approachable demeanor makes it easy for students to approach her and ask questions about events that are coming up. “Elyse really makes this place happen at night — there is always something fun going on,” Annie Cohen, a N.C. State alumna, said. Cohen said she and friends like to come by to socialize in a more relaxed environment. The business is also reaching out to student organizations. Student organizations have held gatherings at Melvin’s and 5-O-Clock to promote fundraisers and to host mixers. Kline said she will keep up her marketing efforts on campus and hopes the NCSU football season will bring in bigger crowds. There are TVs at every booth and a big screen outside so pedestrians and people enjoying a cigarette won’t miss the game.
ALUMNA USES MARKETING SKILLS AND FRIENDLINESS TO PROMOTE SPORTS BAR ON HILLSBOROUGH STREET STORY BY ELLEN SCOTT
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It’s 5-O-Clock somewhere