B-Ball on Bean Street by Mentos Comes to Downtown Raleigh

March 7, 2011 - PRLog -- CARY, N.C., March 7, 2011 – The Pantry, Inc. , the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, today announced  basketball fans of all ages are invited to take a break from the daily grind and celebrate the finale of another great basketball season in Raleigh’s City Plaza at B-Ball on Bean Street, sponsored by Mentos.

On Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11, from 11:30 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m., fans can watch the tournament games on high definition TVs, shoot hoops, toss beanbags and play for the chance to win tickets to Sunday’s championship game in Greensboro. Additional prizes will include sports memorabilia autographed by UNC, NC State and Duke greats. Kids can join in the fun with sidewalk chalk and engaging activities provided by Marble’s Kids Museum.

Stadium bleachers will be set up under the big tent, where fans can enjoy free concessions, including freshly brewed Bean Street Coffee from Kangaroo Express and refreshing Mentos mints and Mentos gum.

B-Ball on Bean Street is a chance for all fans, whether they cheer for the Tar Heels, Wolfpack, Blue Devils or another team entirely, to come together in an exciting  basketball block party and celebrate three deserving charities:  UNC Build a Block, Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Duke Cancer Institute. By donating $1 to their charity of choice, fans can upgrade their free Bean Street Coffee to a UNC, NC State or Duke Battle for Bean Street coffee cup.

The race for the Battle for Bean Street championship is tight as NC State currently trails UNC by less than 1,500 cups. It’s a moving target, but the celebrity free throw match on Thursday could be a real game changer as local celebrities face off to win an extra 1,000 Battle for Bean Street cups toward one of the three beneficiary charities.

About the Battle for Bean Street
The Battle for Bean Street is a competition between rival Triangle-area ACC universities: the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and Duke University. Fans can purchase special university-branded Bean Street Coffee cups at Triangle-area Kangaroo Express locations. For every branded cup bought, the respective university will receive a point towards its team’s total. The university with the most branded cups tallied by April 1, 2011 will earn a donation of $20,000 toward the charity of its choice. For more information, visit www.battleforbeanstreet.com.

About The Pantry
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, The Pantry, Inc. is the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated convenience store chains in the country. As of December 6, 2010, the Company operated 1,672 stores in thirteen states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express®, its primary operating banner. The Pantry's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, as well as gasoline and other ancillary services designed to appeal to the convenience needs of its customers.