Cruisers help rev up business while visiting - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

At Advanced Auto parts, the cash register stays busy the week of Cruisin' the Coast.

"Our business sometimes during this week doubles," Store Manager Phillip Babischkin said. "It's unbelievable how many people we have coming in here and we're on the end of the trail here. With Cruisin' the Coast here, it just does an amazing increase in our business and we look forward to it every year." 

It's the same story at Auto Zone, where Deborah Williams works.  

"Cruisin' has always brought a lot of business. We appreciate them coming in. We love seeing them and it just builds our business tremendously this time of year," Williams said. 

One of those customers is Robert Henderson, visiting from Kentucky in his 1972 Chevelle.

"We redo old cars, but they're still old cars, they still have some problems every once in a while. So you just get everything checked out and everything goes fine," Henderson said. 

So what are the cruisers buying?  Babischkin rolled off a list. 

"We sell extra carburetors. We sell starters, alternators. People come in for tune-ups. They buy caps, rotors, wires."  

When the cruisers visit these stores, they are not only looking for parts that will make their cars functional, they are also looking for things that will make their cars beautiful as well. 

"They come in and get tire shine, wax for their cars, windshield cleaners, blades and everything, you know, to make that car look good," said Sherlean Wickstrom at Advanced Auto.

At Pacer Tire Auto Repair, business is revving up for owner Dan Nord as well.  

"Most of what we see are locals who have cars start to get them ready for Cruisin' the Coast," Nord said.  "We had a '43 Oldsmobile here the other day. We put a carburetor on it for a customer who is getting ready."   

And getting ready to do business is just part of the Cruisin' story. Most of the cruisers will be in town through the end of this weekend.

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