Edgewater gal coping just fine in recession with Biketoberfest gig at Pub 44 in NSB

Photos by Henry Frederick.

April Perreault, 26, of Edgewater, uses her assets to her advantage during Biketoberfest, receiving plenty of tips at Pub 44 on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach, Southeast Volusia's hob nob for bikers during the recent Biketoberfest and the earlier Bike Week.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- April Perrealt understands what Biketoberfest is all about: "Making money."

And that's a good thing in this economy for the 26-year-old Edgewater resident who enjoys the reprieve from her job as an accountant for a video store company. No, she hasn't appeared in any videos, she says with a laugh.

Biketoberfest was good for Pub 44 and the next-door Bruce Rossmeyer NSB Harley-Davidson shop on State Road 44, across from the NSB Regional Shopping Center. Most of the 125,000 bikers were in the Daytona Beach area for the four-day rally that began Oct. 14 and concluded Sunday.

Perreault had lots of customers come her way, alternating between flirting with her, asking her out, taking photos of her. Oh, yes, they were buying drinks, too. Lots of them. And giving her tips. Far more than would fit in her short jean shorts.

As for attention, Perreault takes it all in stride: "Who doesn't want to be photographed. It's a compliment to be asked out on a date. I even get proposals for marriage."

Perreault, who says she's happy in a long-term relationship with a boyfriend, says she also gets hit on by women quite a bit. "A few times by couples," she says.

It's all good because Perreault laughs all the way to the bank. After all, a gal has to make a living, especially in this entrenched recession.

Bikes outside Pub 44 means business inside.