Local businesses are joining in the preparations for the surge of people expected in the campus area this weekend.
The combination of the spring football game, the African-American Heritage Festival and Chittfest have business managers padding their shelves with excess party fare, including snack food, soft drinks and of course, alcohol.
“It will affect how much product I bring in. Beer, ice, pop – I’ll increase all those orders,” said Kathy Crawford, store manager for the Kroger on Olentangy River Road.
Crawford said Kroger is ordering 500 to 600 additional cases of beer.
Amanda Hughes, assistant manager of Tommy’s Pizza, said she is planning to double the normal amount of kegs stocked on weekends, for a total of seven or eight.
“If it’s anything like a regular football day, we’ll go through it,” Hughes said.
Some stores are expressing safety concerns in response to the volume of people Columbus will have to accommodate.
Kroger and other shops that share the plaza met earlier this week to discuss security measures, Crawford said.
“As a business community, we’ve worked with the police to direct traffic out of the parking lot,” Crawford said.
There will also be armed security guards outside Kroger tonight and tomorrow evening.
Despite the extra precautions, Kroger and other stores do not anticipate many problems this weekend.
“I really don’t believe that there will be trouble,” said Duryea Sturdivant, store manager for Rick’s Beverages.
He agreed with the other managers that the weekend presents a positive business opportunity. Sturdivant is also delighted by the variety of social opportunities this weekend’s events will offer.
“Understanding the activities makes me have a better relationship with my customers,” he said.
Stores are now waiting to see if the weekend turnout reaches expectations, particularly in association with the spring football game.
“Football games will always have a very positive effect on business,” Hughes said. “We’re looking forward to seeing the crowd.”
