Small businesses cashing in on CareerBuilder & Tour de Palm Springs crowds
Small businesses around the Coachella Valley are cashing in on the thousands of people coming for the multiple events going on from Palm Springs to PGA West.
It took more than an half hour to find a parking spot in Old Town La Quinta on Friday night. Hundreds of people turned out for the 19th Hole Block Party which featured vendors and live music. It’s perfect place to unwind after following golfs best players at the CareerBuilder Challenge.
“We were on the course this afternoon and followed Phil [Mickelson] around but we are kind of tired so now we are just going to drink beer and have fun,” said Imre Hugya who is visiting from Canada.
Some visitors are ditching the car and renting electric bicycles to get around the valley this weekend.
“You don’t have to pay for parking, the bikes go 25 miles-per-hour, you don’t have to wait for valet, no lines, no traffic, you are in and out on your bike ahead of all the traffic which is why it’s a lot of fun to ride to events,” said Bryan Newman, owner of Pedego La Quinta which sells and rents out electric bikes.
Other businesses like bars and restaurants are also cashing in on the crowds.
“It brings so many extra guests and and everything is going so well, it’s crazy we have like 2 hour waits on these weekends, it’s insane,” said Nicole Gorman a hostess Stuft Pizza in La Quinta.
Fresh faces in the valley also mean new customers for the La Quinta Brewing Company.
“It’s important to get the exposure and when they taste the beer here they go to a restaurant and try it, or get a four pack and bring it back to their condo,” said Scott Stokes founder of the La Quinta Brewing Company.
The Tour de Palm Springs is also bringing entrepreneurs to the desert to sell their wears to cycling enthusiasts.
“We love Tour de Palm Springs, we love Palm Springs, we get a huge amount of people to come in to our booth and REI carries us across the country so this is one of the times people trickle in and we are busy all day we sell a ton,” said Stephanie Lynn, owner of Sweet Spot Skirts, a clothing line for female cyclists.
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