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Businesses behind the Security Barriers are Seeing a Boost, Some Not

AJ Rocco's on Huron at lunch time during the RNC (Darrielle Snipes/ideastream)

 

Some businesses around Quicken Loans Arena are seeing a boost in business during the RNC, while others are seeing a drop.

On East 4th just across from the Q, it is packed with people walking up and down the street. Many of the restaurants are closed for private parties. But Saigon Restaurant is packed.

And Society Lounge, which is normally closed during the day, is open for brunch.

Executive Chef Matt Spinner says the convention is bringing in the business.

"We are geographically closer to the Q,” said Spinner. “If you walk across on Prospect Ave, you see us. You see Barrio and you see Red.

But a short distances away, also by the Q on the Corner of East 9th and Huron, just behind the huge security gates., AJ Rocco’s and other restaurants aren't seeing a surge in business.

Owner Brendan Walton says he believes people are just following the flow of traffic down Prospect.  While they did prepare for an uptick in patrons and applied for the extended liquor license to 4am, they've closed early each night of the RNC.

“We did schedule for three shifts," he said. But we had to let people go because lunch was slow. Everyone though it was going to  be a bump in their income.”

Walton says he believes he will break even and expects business to pick up once the convention is over.