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Despite slow start, businesses hopeful for busy race weekend
Photo By Jonathan Coleman
Empty food booths in the vendor area across U.S. 29 from Lowe's Motor Speedway signal slower than usual business. But vendors are hopeful for a busy weekend ahead.
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Published: May 20, 2009
CONCORD - In a down economy, the business of NASCAR is something of a mixed bag.
For many traveling vendors who sell T-shirts, diecast cars and other memorabilia and collectibles at race tracks across the country, business is noticeably slower as race fans pinch pennies and cut corners to save.
For local business owners who cater to visitors' needs for the short period while race fans are in town, any business is good business.
Tony Richardson, who spends much of his life traveling from track to track selling merchandise, said the recent days outside of Lowe's Motor Speedway have followed the trend of other similar sized venues. Sales are down more than 60 percent by his estimation.
"A majority of the races we've been to, it's been like that," Richardson said. "The frivolous spending has calmed down. People realize they've got to watch their money. Everybody's feeling it."
Richardson said spending this week is fairly reflective of that he's seen at other tracks. With tighter budgets, many fans are having to choose which races they'll attend, he said. Most choose larger races at the bigger tracks.
"Most of the super speedways are still holding their own," he said. "But for the smaller tracks, it's tough."
But for area businesses, many on who have felt the local pinch, any infusion of business is welcome.
Richie Bungert owns NYPD Pizza in Harrisburg Square off Morehead Road.
While there's always room from improvement, Bungert said, he's been pleased with the level of business the races have brought.
"It's the same as last year," he said. "As a business man, you always want things to go up. It's stayed the same, but to be honest with you, in this economy, that's a good thing."
Bungert said a fair amount of his business has come from race teams. He's also noticed more customers buying larger quantities and stretching the food over the course of a couple of meals.
Ray Soporowski, general manager at Concord Mills, said it's difficult to say for sure how much business the mall is getting from race traffic, but if the parking lot is any indication, business is good.
"It was busy here this past weekend," Soporowski said. "We have a lot of events going on in the parking area. We have Dodge out there. We have Simpson Racing out there.
"Overall, anytime you get that number of people in town, it helps your business especially when they're here for long periods of time."
Imagine Concord Mills most weekends or during the summer, and that's how race fans are impacting weekday traffic this week, Soporowski said.
"You just look at the flow of people in the center and you can tell, he said. "When the races are in town, it's almost like it's summertime."
And with the Coca Cola 600 scheduled for Sunday, traveling vendors and local business owners alike are hoping for more of the same.
"I think this weekend is going to be even better," Bungert said. "This is the big one."
• Independent Tribune reporter Karen Cimino Wilson contributed to this report.
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