By CLAY MURPHY
Union County Bureau

UNION, S.C. (7/15/95) -- Sonya Good is witnessing first-hand the economic impact of the Susan Smith trial.

As a lead manager at the Taco Bell in Union, she has seen the number of meals served daily nearly double over the past few weeks. The average transactions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have gone from 200 to 250 to as much as 400 daily.

"It's increasing every day," said Good, adding that the fast-food restaurant has hired two new employees to handle the rush. "Business Monday through Wednesday is starting to catch up with the weekend."

Mac Johnston is not surprised. As director of the Union County Economic Development Board, he has been expecting a "revenue infusion" for months.

He keeps state Department of Revenue figures from the time of the initial Smith investigation by his desk to prove his point.

For instance, gross sales for eating places within the county grew from $1.2 million in the last three weeks of September and the first week of October to $2.2 million for the next month-long period. During that time, news people from around the world converged to cover the search for Michael and Alex Smith.

"That is a million dollar jump," Johnston said. "A lot of that is directly attributable to the media and tourists."

That number returned to $1.2 million for the next month, according to the revenue department.

Johnston also cites accommodations tax figures for the same period. The numbers, based on the number of hotel rooms rented, went from $569 for the month of October to $1,610 in November.

The Bell isn't the only place reaping the benefits of the Smith trial. Hickory Nuts, Union's only sports bar and grill, is experiencing a 25 to 30 percent surge in its food business, and bar revenue has increased slightly as well, says manager Tony Robins.

He's hired three new people - two waitresses and a cook - and expanded its food service hours by an hour and a half to handle media representatives coming in after the evening news.

Robins said the place now serves a "Midnight Brunch" from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. consisting of wings, appetizers and salads.

"The business has justified that," he said. "Our food order has nearly doubled."

While the revenue figures look good, not all Union County businesses will feel the effects of the media invasion. Restaurants, hotels and bars will be the major beneficiaries, Johnston said.

You don't have to tell Linda Williams that. As manager of Moseley's Jewelers, she has seen her business slow to a trickle because of a lack of traffic on sealed-off Main Street near the Union County Courthouse. Jury selection in the double murder trial began Monday.

It's gotten so bad Williams' store has introduced a new commercial. Its theme: "We still have to eat."

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