downtown express
13
February 8 - 14, 2012
Broadway businesses have mixed feelings on parade BY ALINE REYNOLDS Citywide businesses are cashing in big time from Big Blue victory, according to the Mayor’s office, who announced the good news in the late afternoon of Monday, Feb. 6 in anticipation of the Giants’ Lower Manhattan ticker-tape parade. While some local business managers attested to anticipated profits, others were ironically fretting a loss in profits because of the massive crowds. The ticker-tape parade, which began at Battery Place and proceeded along Broadway to Worth Street, attracted between 500,000 and one million spectators, one-third of which will be coming from outside of New York City, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office. The city and its businesses, the announcement said, bilked in between $19 million and $38 million. “The Giant’s Super Bowl victory was an incredible win for our City – and now, tomorrow’s ticker tape through the Canyon of Heroes will be another big win for New Yorkers and our small businesses,” said Bloomberg in a statement. On Monday evening, just hours before the parade began, many Downtown store personnel were busily preparing for the notable surge in customers, some of whom were frequenting the Broadway shops as early as dawn.
Downtown Express photo by Aline Reynolds
Kevin Corssan, general manager of Modell’s Sporting Goods at 150 Broadway, was ready at 6 a.m. on Monday in preparation for fans wanting a piece of Super Bowl history.
“[Today] is the busiest day I’ve ever personally been a part of at Modell’s,” said Kevin Corssan, general manager of Modell’s Sporting Goods at 150 Broadway. “When we get a championship, you work very long hours, and you work very hard during those long hours, but it’s a lot of fun.” Corssan was preparing for a 6 a.m. opening to accommodate the hoards of Giants fans that came in to purchase roster t-shirts, foam fingers, towels, and other paraphernalia bearing the football team’s logo. The manager recruited 15 additional salespeople from other Modell’s shops in the Tri-State area to join Tuesday’s staff. “A lot of people take tomorrow off and want to get their parade gear and get a good spot out on Broadway,” he said. “Between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., we’ll expect anywhere from 3,500 to 4,000 customers.” Romeo, manager of Suspenders Restaurant at 111 Broadway who declined to give his last name, was equally stoked about the parade, which he expected would draw between four and six times the number of diners the restaurant usually sees on a Tuesday. “It’s great for the city, it’s great for the economy, and it’s something to celebrate,
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COURTESY OF THE SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM for more information visit: newamsterdammarket.org
16 galleries packed with installations that will appeal to families and adults, including: t --?:C '+66 #><//> += -+:>?</. ,C :29>949?<8+63=>= t 3=:6+C= 90 >996=N =23: 79./6=N =23:= 38 ,9>>6/=N +8. 79</ t 29>91<+:2C ,C .A+<. ?<>C8=5CN /H 23/8\ =381 3+9N +8. #C6@3+ 6+-2C WEDNESDAY–SUNDAY 10 am–6 pm 12 Fulton Street, New York City (between Water and South Streets) $5.00 admission, children under 9 are free www.southstreetseaportmuseum.com | 212-748-8600