Hot Dogs and Coffee Sell Well in South Iceland Over Holiday Weekend

As Icelanders gear up for the Verslunarmannahelgin (Bank Holiday weekend), two popular roadside establishments in South Iceland are bracing for a surge in customers. Pálína Kristinsdóttir, owner of Söluskálinn við Landvegamót, expects to sell close to 200 hot dogs, while Tómas Þóroddsson, owner of Kaffi Krús in Selfoss, reports that Thursday has become the busiest day of the holiday weekend.

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It varies where people stop on the way, but those who come to me are mostly people who have a habit of coming here.

Kristinsdóttir noted that while customers stop at various points, many are regulars who make a point of visiting her establishment. She described a "constant traffic" throughout the week, with a calmer atmosphere settling in by Sunday. She anticipates selling a significant number of hot dogs, laughing when asked for a specific figure but settling on "close to 200."

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There has been constant traffic all week. Then people will calm down on Sunday.

Þóroddsson explained that Thursday has emerged as the busiest day because travelers often depart earlier in the weekend. "Everyone stops by who has time to get a head start on the weekend," he said. "On the Friday before the Bank Holiday weekend, everyone is rushing, and people take less time to stop."

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I'm not going to be too optimistic, but I think close to 200 hot dogs.

Both businesses are anticipating a busy weekend, partly due to favorable weather forecasts for the southern region of Iceland and the ongoing National Festival in Vestmannaeyjar, which draws many travelers to the area. Þóroddsson also mentioned that weather significantly influences customer flow, with bad weather leading to more business on Sunday as people return home, and good weather encouraging more stops on Monday.

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Thursday has become the busiest day of the Bank Holiday weekend.