For CCU homecoming parade, even the food was wearing teal

An hour before the parade started on Friday afternoon, and before the convoy had even left Coastal Carolina University, fans and locals wearing teal and waving CCU flags had gathered on sidewalks up and down Main Street waiting to welcome home their national championship-winning baseball team.

But it wasn’t just fans wearing teal.

The refreshments were also wearing the team colors.

Terry Bedell, who manages The Trestle in downtown Conway, was giving away teal-frosted cupcakes to anybody who wanted one.

“It’s just our way of saying ‘Thank you, we’re proud of you, what you’re doing for Conway makes us happy,’” she said. “For this town, it put us on the map. We spend a lot of time at the college with catering and they take care of us and we take care of them.”

The celebration came a day after Coastal beat Arizona in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., to take the title of national champions. Bedell said the victory was a win for the school and the city.

“When they come to the beach they’re also going to want to come to Conway, that’s going to improve our economy,” she said. “They’re going to want to come and see the national champs who were the Cinderella team.”

She said the business has seen a spike in sales since the team won the series.

“We have extra staff on because we knew with the parade coming downtown, we were going to busy,” she said.

Barbara Crady Whitley co-owns Crady’s Eclectic Cuisine, which carries a different flavored tea every day, and was planning on doing a green apple tea on Friday.

“I thought ‘What better thing to do than make it teal green apple tea,’” she said. “I sweeten it with stevia, and I put my secret flavoring in it, which is teal.”

Crady’s already is very CCU-centric, with teal awnings, teal walls and teal plate specials. But today’s special is hometown pride.

“The community has just come together,” she said. “Everyone I know was watching the games, especially the game yesterday. There’s always been a great spirit about Conway and a great community coming together and it’s just solidified that.”

Krispy Kreme, which has several locations along the Grand Strand but none in Conway, brought in 25 dozen teal-frosted donuts to help celebrate.

“Our owner owns all the Grand Strand locations,” said Courtney Hicks. “So we wanted to come out and support our wonderful Chanticleers, show off our beautiful teal donuts and celebrate that sweet victory with all of our Chanticleer supporters.”

This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 5:41 PM with the headline "For CCU homecoming parade, even the food was wearing teal."