Tropical Storm Erika: Restaurants and Bars Staying Open, Having Hurricane Parties and Specials

When there's a hurricane watch in South Florida, people don't get worried. They get prepared.

For many Floridians, the most important items to stock up on aren't water, gas, or even food. Instead, we make sure to have all the necessary components for a proper storm-themed party. At the top of the list: plenty of ice (for cocktails), liquor (shots, shots, shots), beer (hey, beer pong is a serious sport), a generator (for the blender — pina coladas, anyone?), and a battery-powered radio (the living room will become a dance floor).

As Tropical Storm Erika inches closer to South Florida, we're already planning how we'll wait out the storm. So whether it's throwing a hurricane party or heading to the nearest bar, here are the best spots to stock up (or celebrate) the return of hurricane season in South Florida.

World of Beer
World of Beer — with locations in Coconut Creek, West Palm Beach, Wellington — is closed only two days during the year: Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. So it makes sense a little bad weather won't keep it from holding regular business hours no matter what Erika has to say about it. A corporate spokesperson confirmed the plan is to keep the taps flowing at each South Florida location despite the bad weather. That means you can take your time drinking through more than 50 draft selections of craft brew. Just make sure to bring some snacks with you; the bars don't offer any food, and there's no guarantee nearby partner restaurants will be open and available for takeout deliveries. 

Bull Market
As Fort Lauderale's self-proclaimed official hurricane bar (that goes for official Miami Hurricane bar, as well), Bull Market co-owner John Todora says his Himmarshee Village restaurant will be open no matter what the weather is like outside. The bar will be serving two-for-one drinks the day the storm hits, available all day — and night — long.

Mellow Mushroom
If the weather gets really bad, you can always hunker down at the Mellow Mushroom in Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, or Wellington. The Fort Lauderdale restaurant says it has impact-proof glass — and plenty of pizza and beer — to get you through the storm safe, sound, and satisfied.

Burger Craze
The beach is probably the last place you want to be during a hurricane. That's why the guys over at Burger Craze in Deerfield Beach are throwing a "Stay Away" party instead. Until Tropical Storm Erika officially passes, the restaurant is offering its happy-hour specials all day, as well as 10 percent off reduced-priced bar bites.

Checkers Old Munchen
On Sunday, August 30, Checkers in Pompano Beach is having a hurricane party rain, slop, or shine. The bar will be pouring $10 boots of beer and serving $10 platters of pork wiener schnitzel for all you thirsty, hungry hurricane partiers.

Hurricane Alley
Aptly named, don't you think? So does Hurricane Alley owner Kim Kelly, who plans to open her Boynton Beach bar and restaurant all day and night despite any inclement weather. Hurricane (and tropical storm) related specials include $3 Hurricane Ally amber ales on draft, and 15 percent off any hurricane-named food item. And boy, are there a lot of them. Good luck choosing just one.

Due South Brewing
Boynton Beach's Due South Brewing has a plan: It'll be open its regular hours all weekend (closed Monday as usual, however) no matter what the weather is like outside. Its "Stock the Fridge" promotion is in effect today through Sunday, with reduced-price growler and growler fills. It'll also be promoting sales of its "Hurricane six-packs" with deals on Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5 IPAs. It even has some food trucks lined up. Sunday, Rolling Chefs will be doing a brunch, then switching over to a lunch menu at 3 p.m.

Beer Trade Co.
The Delray Beach beer bar and restaurant will be offering a super special deal on food and drink, starting tonight. It all starts during happy hour at 4 p.m., when you can get $2 off all beer and wine as well as half-priced appetizers. In honor of Erika, the deal will keep going all weekend long. The plan is to sell out of everything come Sunday night — just in case it loses power. Hey, let nothing — especially good beer — go to waste, right? 

Total Wine & More
The Maryland-based liquor superstore with more than a dozen locations in South Florida says each of its Broward and Palm Beach county locations will be open for business as usual during the storm. That means you can venture out into the mayhem to purchase booze and beer until 10 p.m. on weekdays and up until 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 

The Riverside Market & Craft Beer Cartel
The Riverside Market and Craft Beer Cartel in Fort Lauderdale will be open and offering patrons the essentials (beer, beer, and more beer) all weekend long. It also plans on selling $8 Blue Point Imperial IPA bombers, because it understands that good beer is an essential part of anyone's hurricane party list.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.