The World Cup has been good for Johnson County, many businesses say
While different pockets of the Kansas City area are reporting varying sales numbers, many businesses in Johnson County are seeing an uptick.
The amount the World Cup has positively impacted businesses depends on whom you ask. But on the whole, it appears several shops — though not all — in the Johnson County suburbs are seeing an increase.
‘Really, really good’
Some spots — like Revel Sports Tavern in Overland Park — prepared extensively for the World Cup. Owner Danney Elmore said he’s been laying the groundwork for months, reaching out to the fan groups of several countries, posting on Facebook pages and advertising as much as possible.
He’s seen business increase 17% week over week.
“It’s been really, really good for us,” he said.
His watch parties have been especially impactful. The Argentina fan club listed Revel as its home base for watch parties, which Elmore said is because his upcoming Berkley Riverfront spot is near Argentina’s home-away-from-home, Origin Hotel.
But the north location’s opening is a few months away, so to 7300 W. 119th St. in Overland Park many Argentines went.
He said Tuesday that he thinks businesses can turn the World Cup profitable if they run promotions, be creative and advertise. He tried to drum up business months before the World Cup began so he wouldn’t be in the hole.
Some of the negative chatter online about bad business because of the World Cup is frustrating, he added.
“We all have the same opportunities, and we have to serve the local people first,” he said. “There’s so many opportunities to go out and be proactive … to reach out to these people prior.”
That said, to those who have said they aren’t seeing the business they expected, Elmore predicts they should. Many fans who caught the FIFA Fan Fest on the first leg may begin to venture out more.
“All these places should get busier now,” Elmore said. “The opportunity is still there, if they still capitalize.”
Matt Britton at Overland Park’s Discourse Brewing said business is faring well.
It hasn’t been anything crazy, but he was projected to see a 30% increase this year. He’s on target to hit that this summer, so it’s unclear how much is due to the World Cup.
It’s been busier during the games, however, especially during the U.S. versus Australia match. He doesn’t have an estimate of how many spectators were present then, but there weren’t any vacant tables by the time the game started. Discourse has plenty of televisions.
The fact that it’s been so busy is more incidental, Britton said, not because of any extra marketing he’s done.
“We didn’t put in time and effort into building a soccer crowd before the World Cup coming,” Britton said. “My expectation wasn’t that we were gonna be booming … We’re just gonna sell beer to the folks that get here.”
Interestingly, his biggest increase is in to-go orders. His brewery at 7211 W. 97th St. sells four-packs, six-packs and boxes.
Those have made up 28% of his sales, which are “Super Bowl” proportions, Britton said. He thinks many are attending watch parties at friends’ homes and stocking up.
He’s met a few out-of-towners at his brewery, but only one who came internationally. Many are here from Omaha, Des Moines and surrounding Midwestern cities. He’s not sure how many of those are here for the game, however.
That said, it certainly hasn’t been slower. He mused that it may be because he’s one of two breweries in Overland Park. But it’s been more active during World Cup games than Chiefs games.
‘Tough to be in a bad mood’
Eric Flanagan, owner of Hank’s Garage & Grill in downtown Shawnee, said he’s seeing more business increase at his 5801 Nieman Road American restaurant than his Crossroads concepts, King G and Jim’s Alley Bar.
The crowd he’s seeing at Hank’s is mostly area residents coming out to eat, drink, watch games and celebrate. His prediction is that many people are opting to stay in their neighborhood to avoid the crowds.
Ironically, that’s led to a 10% increase at Hank’s, while business at Jim’s and King G hasn’t dropped but has remained steady.
“We are up a little bit, and I think it’s just how fun the tournament’s been and people coming out, locals coming out, to watch the tournament,” he said. “It’s kinda what we expected at Hank’s.”
Flanagan said he didn’t prepare too much beforehand at his Johnson County concept, but he’s been enjoying seeing so many fans coming into Hank’s in their jerseys to enjoy beers and burgers.
While he initially extended hours at his Crossroads businesses, he quickly reverted to normal operations after realizing business wasn’t increasing. He doesn’t blame the city or any other entity, though, nor does he see the flip-flop as a major loss. He said he’s choosing to focus on the positives that the World Cup is bringing.
Plus, being quick on your feet is simply part of entrepreneurship.
“It’s tough to be in a bad mood about it when it’s such a big event for our city,” he said. “We own businesses, we have to do what we have to do. If it means you have to switch things up really quick, you have to switch things up.”
Downtown Shawnee, a growing area with several bars and restaurants, hosted an Americana & Ales Music Festival over the weekend, which Flanagan said was busy.
‘It’s more locals’
Amy Turpin, director of operations for The Bar, said she’s seeing a 5% to 10% increase across all her locations, including the West Plaza spot. But her Johnson County locations — Prairie Village, Olathe and Mission — are feeling it, too.
In Johnson County, she’s seeing more area residents out and about, celebrating.
“It’s more locals — even people that weren’t into soccer are into soccer,” she said.
Mollie Lothman, owner of McLain’s, said she’s seen more traffic at her Waldo and Johnson County locations — in south Overland Park, on Roe Avenue in Overland Park and near downtown Shawnee — as well. She couldn’t put a number to just how much, but she said it’s up a bit from last summer.
There haven’t been many tourists stopping by the Johnson County spots, but British podcasters Ali Maxwell and George Elek did praise the breakfast at their Waldo location.
Not everyone in Johnson County is seeing a bump, however.
Jordan Grove, owner of The Social Bar & Grill at 13410 W. 62nd Terrace in Shawnee, said things have been pretty much the same for him. He hasn’t seen an increase or drop, but he didn’t do much to prepare beforehand.
Grove said he chose not to hire new staff, change hours or dump money into advertising.
“I’ve looked at it with the perspective of, there’s hundreds of bars and grills or restaurants that people can go to.”
Dhiaa Eid, owner of Hummus and Pita in downtown Overland Park, said business has been the same for him. He says many of his area colleagues are reporting similar experiences — business as usual.
Previously, Chef Patrick Peluso of Q39 told The Star they’re selling twice as much food as they typically do, and the Overland Park location is just as busy as the original midtown spot.
“We’re seeing the same volume pickup,” he said. “Same demographic, folks who are staying on the south side of town.”
Barbecue restaurants in the city, on the whole, are reporting high sales numbers.