Capitals Playoff Run Winners: Restaurants

[Mike0476]

I have a buddy who recently visited DC and raved about his experience. Great read on how restaurants near a downtown arena has been proven to be successful.

Last Friday, an hour before the opening game of the Washington/Tampa Bay series is set to begin, Fontana’s place, like every restaurant on the block, is crowded. So crowded that he has to occasionally stop talking to me and run to the other side of the steam table to help his two-man staff carve meats and serve sides.

Capital Q, Fontana says, will take in “up to $1,000” a game in added receipts during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“There’s four rounds in the Stanley Cup playoffs? Let’s say three home games per round,” Fontana says. “Getting an extra $1,000 a game, well, we’re not a big place, so that’s really big. The difference when the Caps go out in the first round, or they [win the Stanley Cup], that could be a $10,000 swing for us.”

While he keeps specific dollar amounts to himself, every Caps playoff game “adds another 10 percent” to his bar’s average nightly take, Algie says.
“And a 10 percent bump is a really big deal for us,” Algie says.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/40795/capitals-playoff-run-winners-restaurants/

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Without a doubt. My dad had a restaurant back in the early days that was one of the last stops en route to Arco coming from the South up I5 and while the other restaurants were struggling Arco traffic pretty much kept the thing afloat and made it a quick sale when times turned sour. It would be so great to see a dozen or so restaurants open up in the vicinity of a downtown arena.

 

[Mike0476]

I'd love to have a Squeeze Inn near the arena.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I'd love to have a Squeeze Inn near the arena.

Oooh good call Mike...Squeeze Inn either in Old Sac or in the 'yards' would be nice! Also, I think a ton of others would be good choices...I'd love to be able to hit up a BJ's before or after a game right next to the arena...how about a Dave & Busters? I think you have to have a good mix of nationally owned franchises with your locally owned ones to kind of balance everything out esthetically...it would create a great synergy.

 

[Mike0476]

Oooh good call Mike...Squeeze Inn either in Old Sac or in the 'yards' would be nice! Also, I think a ton of others would be good choices...I'd love to be able to hit up a BJ's before or after a game right next to the arena...how about a Dave & Busters? I think you have to have a good mix of nationally owned franchises with your locally owned ones to kind of balance everything out esthetically...it would create a great synergy.

BJ's is always packed in Natomas during events, especially Kings games.

I mentioned Squeeze Inn for two reasons.

1. It's damn good.

2. It's a small, locally owned franchise. I'd like to see the little guy take part in this too.

Many jobs will be created because of this. It doesn't matter if it's minimum wage or higher. It's still a job and that means one less person who is unemployed sitting at home doing nothing and maybe collecting a check from the EDD. That's reality.

 

[Warhawk]

BJ's is always packed in Natomas during events, especially Kings games.

I mentioned Squeeze Inn for two reasons.

1. It's damn good.

2. It's a small, locally owned franchise. I'd like to see the little guy take part in this too.

Many jobs will be created because of this. It doesn't matter if it's minimum wage or higher. It's still a job and that means one less person who is unemployed sitting at home doing nothing and maybe collecting a check from the EDD. That's reality.

You may not know, but they just opened a Squeeze Inn in West Sac on Harbor south of Business 80. We have been meaning to hit it up for lunch sometime but the line is always out the door. We will have to wait until the line goes down a bit.

They opened one in Galt a few years back and I have been there a few times. Good stuff!

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I'd love to have a Squeeze Inn near the arena.

Man, I'd hate to be the guy who misses the entire game because he's standing in the line at the Squeeze Inn!

 

[JB_kings]

Frequent patron of the Roseville Squeeze Inn here!

 

[pdxKingsFan]

BJ's is always packed in Natomas during events, especially Kings games.

I mentioned Squeeze Inn for two reasons.

1. It's damn good.

2. It's a small, locally owned franchise. I'd like to see the little guy take part in this too.

Many jobs will be created because of this. It doesn't matter if it's minimum wage or higher. It's still a job and that means one less person who is unemployed sitting at home doing nothing and maybe collecting a check from the EDD. That's reality.

I think its inevitable in this day and age that a good chunk of an entertainment/dining district would be national chains but hopefully they will accommodate the locals too. I don't know if they can designate a certain amount of space for locally owned or not, I imagine the bidding to get in will be intense. Maybe set up an area for food carts or something. Who doesn't love good street food and it can generate some new entrepreneurial spirit in the area.

 

[kennadog]

Maybe Webber should try a new Center Court in the rail yards.

Altho, I must say the food needs to be better and the service definitley needs to be better. May have been the worst service I've experienced. Incredibly slow.

 

[Hoovtrain]

I'd love to have a Squeeze Inn near the arena.

Just purchased my groupon for $10 for $20 worth of food

 

[Mike0476]

Just purchased my groupon for $10 for $20 worth of food

I did too earlier this morning and two tickets from Fandango for $8.