by Jim Crawford

CAREFREE – In the past, many area businesses in and around Carefree/Cave Creek have closed their doors during the hottest summer months citing fewer customers and less traffic.

Owners say they couldn’t justify staying open because it was just too darn hot.

Now, the times, they are a changin’.

Businesses all around the Carefree Town Center and along Cave Creek Road have pledged to keep their doors open all year to accommodate the increasing tourist traffic and to provide places for local residents to hang out.

“This is our fourth summer to stay open,” said Robert Gabrick, owner of Carefree Station in Spanish Village. “We’ve started our summer promotion called ‘Cool Days of Summer.’ Our summer‑long happy hours started June 1 and run through September 1.

“During our happy hours we offer hourly specials and a 25‑percent discount on all wine, liquor and beer. Plus, we’re rolling out a lighter summer menu. There’s more fresh fish and salads. And, our regular items will have a lighter touch. We’re basically changing our whole menu for summer.”

Three large patios give customers a variety of choices as to where they want to be seated.

“All of our patios have misting systems,” Gabrick said. “One of the really big things is we will have a giant retractable awning on our rooftop patio. It’s about 40 feet long and covers the complete patio. It’ll be open during the evenings so you can see the stars and the mountains.

During the day it’ll be covered to protect customers from the heat. The patio is going to change our way of living. Last summer we had a temporary awning and we packed the roof every night.”

So, the folks at Carefree Station welcome summer.

“As we’ve built our business we’re no longer afraid of summer,” Gabrick said. “We don’t look forward to the heat but we can, and do, keep people cool. We’ve had people ask us to turn the misters off because they get to cool.”

This summer will be the first time in five years the English Rose Tea Room will remain open, says owner Jo Gemmill.

“We’re staying open because when I got home from my summer break last year I had 300 calls on my answering machine,” she says. “It was either get a new answering machine or stay open. I nearly wore my finger out pushing the message button. People were wanting to know if we were open.

“We’ll be featuring lots of iced teas, chilled soups and ice cream specials,” Gemmill says. “We’ll try to compensate for the hot weather. We noticed in the past few years there are a lot more locals who make Carefree their year‑round home. Besides, we’ll be one of the only restaurants open down here. Hopefully, if the locals know we’re here they’ll keep coming and tell their friends about us.”

Down south a few miles, the folks at el Pedregal have planned loads of activities designed to beat the heat and provide a relaxing summertime environment.

“We decided we wanted to do some things in our misted courtyard on Saturday mornings when it’s cool,” explained Wendy Young, operations manager for el Pedregal. “Different restaurants will be serving breakfast. Visitors can enjoy a cool meal outside before it gets too hot.

“There are all kinds of exciting attractions,” Young said. “The Mineral & Fossil Gallery has a wooly mammoth tusk from Siberia on display. B Emporium is offering table setting sessions to show how to properly set a formal table for dinner. They’ll have elegant China and linens on display. And it’s free.”

“Salon Mila is offering hair and nails at 50 percent off during the Saturday events,” Young said. “Caribbean Kids will have kids’ fashion shows. They are looking for kids to model clothes. D&G Contemporary Designs is offering free design consultations.

“There’ll be live music in the courtyard. Complementary refreshments and light drinks,” Young said. “All of the shops will be offering some kind of specials in keeping with the spirit of the event. It’ll be a fun day and a fun summer. Come see us.”

On down the road a ways the Big Bronco Wild West Emporium at 6602 E. Cave Creek Rd. will be open for business as usual.

Big Bronco is in the midst of a huge expansion project that has not slowed them down at all, says manager Beth Rabedeau.

“The Furniture Barn is closed for the month, but the mercantile store is open,” she says. “We’re looking at a completion date of Aug. 1. Other than that, we’re here. We’re keeping our regular hours of 10 a.m.‑5 p.m., seven days a week. Come on in out of the heat.”

Wild Holly Gallery in the Carefree Town Center is continuing its seventh anniversary celebration by offering a 15‑percent discount on all merchandise through August, says owner Holly Bergman.

“We’re also now the exclusive Arizona representative of Art Norby’s work,” she says. “When he and Kathy moved north, they left his work here. We’re very excited about that. We’ve shortened our hours for summer a bit, but we’re still open from 11 a.m.‑4 p.m. and closed on Wednesday.”

A cool cantina is always a welcome respite from the heat.

Trotta’s Grill and Sports Bar will be open throughout the summer offering cold libations as well as selections from its eclectic menu.

“It’ll be business as usual for us,” owner Tim Trotta says. “We’re closing for a brief vacation and then we’ll be back open.”

Trotta’s offers a happy hour from 11 a.m.‑7 p.m. daily as well daily luncheon specials.

For those who are musically inclined Trotta’s has a karaoke night from 9 p.m.‑1 a.m.

If you can stand the heat try the covered patio at Trotta’s at 6554 E Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek.

“Why wouldn’t we stay open?” asks Yvonne Gleason, owner of Spirit of the West Boot Co. in Cave Creek.

“If you’ve got to pay rent, you’ve got to pay rent,”she surmises. “One customer can come in and buy $1,000 in merchandise and you’ve paid the bills. The ones who close are the ones who gripe about not making any money. Why wouldn’t we stay open?”

Gleason said she runs periodic summer specials discounting select items as an attraction to visit her store at 6268 E. Cave Creek Rd. in Cave Creek. Shoppers will find a huge selection of western wear.

Summer hours are 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Mon.–Sat. and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on Sunday.