Mini Grand Prix: Downtown restaurants and merchants ready to serve visitors
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Springfield, Ohio — The streets surrounding Geoff Norman's downtown business have been closed since Thursday, but the owner of The Fountain on Main isn't complaining.
The start and finish line for today's Rotary Mini Grand Prix is right outside his door.
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Norman is normally closed on Saturdays but he and other downtown merchants are adjusting their hours to accommodate the thousands expected to attend the annual fundraiser.
"I was worried (about the blocked streets) the first year," Norman said of the 2004 inaugural race. "But none of my worries materialized."
Springfield's downtown businesses owners are not crying foul because of their good relationship with Center City Association, said Sam Beloff, owner of Rose City Jewelry and Pawn Shop. Center City involves merchants in discussions about events that might impact their business.
"Always without questions we put our support behind these effort that utilize our downtown," he said.
New downtown restaurants — Seasons Bistro and Grille, and Central Perk Cafe — have taken their cues from Norman and Beloff.
"We're usually not opened on Saturday afternoon," said Margaret Maddox, co-owner of Seasons "But we're going to open up and serve sandwiches to people during Saturday's race. We have a nice view from our windows."
Central Perk is opening early today in hopes of catching the 7:30 a.m. qualifying race crowd.
"We're hoping we'll pick up a lot of foot traffic," said Central Perk's co-owner Ron Gearheart.
There's no official tracking of the economic impact, but anecdotally city officials know it's a lot, and not only restaurants.
"The downtown (Courtyard by Marriot) tends to fill up," said Springfield Assistant City Manager Jim Bodenmiller. "Especially those corner rooms where people can watch the race."
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0347 or kmori@coxohio.com.
