WORTHINGTON -- With warmer temperatures on the horizon, local stores are gearing up to sell grills and outdoor furnishings.
"The cooler weather right now is not holding people back," said Darla O'Brien, who works in the seasonal department at Runnings Fleet and Farm. "We have been selling the two-seated benches with the table in between, and people are starting to look at grills."
About a month ago, outdoor furnishings began arriving at Runnings in Worthington. At that time, employees began assembling the patio sets and grills for display.
The grills with a side burner for cooking vegetables are a hit. This type of grill allows a person to do all of the cooking in an outdoor setting.
In recent years, more and more homeowners are creating outdoor living spaces that are extensions of their homes.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to a recent survey completed by the American Home Furnishings Alliance, 91 percent of the population has outdoor living spaces. An outdoor living space can be a patio, porch, deck, garden, balcony, rooftop or other open-air oasis. Of the people surveyed, about 80 percent said they wish they could spend more time in their outdoor space.
"During the last couple years, outdoor fireplaces have become really popular," O'Brien said. "We have gotten a lot of patio sets in. There's such a variety ... three-piece, fivepiece and seven-piece sets."
The Adirondack chairs that have been popular for a number of years are available in more styles than just the unfinished wood.
"We've got them in resin in two colors," O'Brien said. "Those continue to sell well."
Sterling Drug at Northland Mall is just beginning to unpack its outdoor seasonal items, and its greenhouse will be up and running the last week of April.
"People are doing more patios and outdoor living areas," Sterling Drug store manager Linda Kuhle said. "A lot of people are employed, and we enjoy our relaxing time at home outdoors."
Plants, patio furniture and pottery items will be for sale in this year's greenhouse area.
"People are making colorful statements in pottery," Kuhle said. "They are adding splashes of color to their outdoor area."
ADVERTISEMENT
Kuhle also expects the resin furniture will continue to be a big seller again this summer season.
"The new resin is a non-fading resin and it's comfortable," she said.
At Ace Hardware in Worthington, store manager Gaylen Hubbard is expecting more summer outdoor items to arrive in early-May.
"We haven't been rushing it because of the weather. Our spring is so late this year," he said. "People are coming in and they want to be outside, but it keeps snowing."
Right now, grills and accessories for outdoor cooking are selling quickly at Ace.
"We are big into grills," Hubbard said. "We sell the Weber grills, Holland grills and the Big Green Egg, which is a charcoal grill.
"The other day when it was snowing I sold a Weber grill," he said. "People are in the mood and ready to get out there and do things, so if the weather will straighten out, it will help tremendously."
