Shop, eat local after NFL draft slowdown
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Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Many Pittsburgh-area restaurants and other small businesses didn't see a windfall from the NFL draft's economic boom.
Why it matters: Owners spent extra on inventory and staff for one of football's biggest events, then took losses as most neighborhoods outside of the draft footprint stayed slow.
- Owners also reported losing foot traffic as regulars avoided crowds or worked remotely, leading to unusually low sales that could take weeks to recover — despite record-high draft attendance.
Zoom in: Roaming Bean owner Penny Folino juggled an NFL draft vendor spot at Point State Park while her Strip District shop took a 70% hit in Saturday sales, she told the Post-Gazette. She said draft campus sales were much stronger, but still lower than expected.
- Roland's Seafood Grill in the Strip staffed up for a full-scale draft week rush, but the crowds never came, manager Eric Fennelo told WPXI.
- Rocco's Ristorante on the North Side posted on Instagram that the business loaded up on extra food, staff and liquor supplies, but the turnout fell short.
The big picture: Several businesses on social media are echoing this sentiment.
Call to action: The underwhelming turnout at local businesses makes this a great time to visit your neighborhood restaurants, cafés, and shops. Stop by in the coming days — they'll be glad to see you.
- Then cross a bridge or tunnel this weekend and check out a new neighborhood or one you haven't visited in a while.
Case in point: Simon Chough, owner of Soju in Garfield, told the Post-Gazette they had a dead first day of the draft after buying extra supplies.
- The community responded. The Korean restaurant was packed on Saturday, per a comment the restaurant left on Instagram.
- Saturday was Independent Bookstore Day, and many of our indie shops were bustling.
💭 Ryan's thought bubble: Head to the Strip and the North Side. Both were noticeably slower than a typical weekend when I visited during the draft.
✍️ Chrissy's thought bubble: Leaving a positive online review goes a long way in supporting local businesses, too.
The bottom line: Everyone got a little overhyped for the draft — some excited, some anxious, some opportunistic — but it's time to do what Pittsburghers do best: Support our neighbors.