Kris Allen inspires free cheese dip

In celebration of Conway resident Kris Allen's success on "American Idol," Stoby's in Conway will give its famous yellow cheese dip away free to everyone from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, until it runs out.

General Manager Tim Ester said since Allen mentioned the restaurant on the show last week, the restaurant has been flooded with customers wanting cheese dip and media wanting stories.

"It's a media frenzy," he said.

He said he has received e-mails from people across the country, "people who probably lived here before and have eaten at Stoby's, treating us like we're champions."

A local grocery store that sells the cheese dip in the refrigerated section sold out, he said.

"It has been unbelievable. Our total sales increased 30 percent the day after he got in the finals (Thursday)," Ester said.

When Allen made it into the top three, he and the other contestants were granted a hometown visit. Allen requested to have lunch at Stoby's, and the restaurant shut down for three hours so that Allen and his friends and family could have lunch together, Ester said. The restaurant had already posted a sign announcing it was giving Allen free cheese dip for life, and the subject came up when clips from Allen's hometown visit were shown on last week's results show.

Ester said, "Kris was in Chi Alpha. They come in on Monday nights. We always gave them free cheese dip. It's kind of ironic. He didn't forget where he came from.

"It's been an honor for us because of the recognition we've gotten, but I think everybody in Conway and Arkansas is proud of Kris," Ester said. "We're going to honor Conway and whoever else wants cheese dip."

He noted Stobys.com has a Kris Allen link with photos from Allen's recent visit to Stoby's.

(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)