Beer Run, located at Carleton and Market St. has been a staple in the Charlottesville brunch scene for years. It's location, menu, and atmosphere give Beer Run a diverse demographic in the areas of age, economic status, social habits and race. Each demographic has been broken down in an in-depth analysis, and then the over-arching culture is looked at as a whole.

 

 

Age

 

     When sitting down to Sunday brunch at Beer Run, it is easy to see why it is able to thrive in a college town. When I sat down, I counted nine college age diners, one young family, and two couples that would fall in the 30-40 range. The age demographic is one that is focused mostly on young adults, not lending itself to children or the elderly.

      The reasons for this are not entirely obvious, but they exist. Children, as they are dependent on their parents, are left out of the Beer Run customer base because the atmosphere is not suited to serve them. During the crowded Sunday brunch rush, the wait for a table for more than four people is 45 minutes or longer, a statistic that is not family friendly. 

 

       With the largest table being able to seat four, maybe five people comfortably, it requries extra effort, and two tables that are close in proximity to accomodate a family of four or more, another factor that may deter young families from dining at Beer Run.

 

       Beer Run creates another obstacle for young families, as they do not provide a kids menu of any kind. This ostracizes young families, as it makes it difficult to satisfy everyone in the family, without rodering a full meal for a child who may not be able to finish it.     

 

       The elderly, much like children, are excluded from the Beer Run customer base. This is due to a couple of factors. With only 7% of Charlottesville's population being over the age of 70, it is not surprising that the elderly are not well represented in the first place.

 

         According to the CDC, about 10% of older men and 15% of older women reported cutting back on driving due to a physical problem in the last year, and 44% of older drivers said that they avoid driving in heavy traffic. This means that less elderly people are willing to travel unless necessary. With Beer Run not being centrally located, and not close to any public transit route, Beer Run has created an unintentional obstacle for the elderly. 

 

         By blockading children and elderly, Beer Run has a customer base made up of almost entirely young adults, made up largely by a sub-group of college age students. 

 

         Beer Run plays into this customer demographic by boasting one of the most extensive alcoholic drink menus in Charlottesville, showcasing craft beers from across the nation and their "award-winning" Bloody Mary cocktail.

 

          Zach Herriot, a University of Virginia student in his third-year summed up why Beer Run is so appealing to the college demographic. 

 

          "Beer Run brunch is great because it's one of the few places where it's socially acceptable to have a beer with breakfast," Herriot said.

 

          With the National Institute of Health (NIH) claiming that about 4 of every 5 college students drink alcohol on a regular basis, it is no surprise than an extensive variety of beer can draw the college demographic in. 

 

 

        

 

 

 

            

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