Struggling Coachella Valley restaurant owners hope for spike in business on Super Bowl Sunday

They're taking calls and getting the place ready for hopefully a busy weekend, especially Sunday, at Henry's Sports Bar and Grill in Cathedral City.

That's when football will be airing on televisions they plan to set up in the outside dining area.

"So you make that extra revenue and my servers can put a little extra money in their pocket," said owner Carlos Lechuga.

Lechuga, in the restaurant business for 45 years, says Super Bowl Sunday is among his 5 busiest days of the year.

Thankfully for him and other owners in Riverside County, they're allowed to offer outdoor dining once again after the county was moved back into the purple tier January 25th.

Lechuga has several tables set up outside and plans to add more in front of the place before Sunday.

"We've been through a lot. The community has been through a lot. There is probably more to come, but I think there is light at the end of the tunnel," said Lechuga.

Lechuga says the year has been especially tough.

If not for receiving PPP loans and an SBA loan, he says his doors would probably not be open.

Restaurant owners in Riverside County are enjoying a slight advantage over their counterparts in Los Angeles County.

That's where televisions are not allowed in their outdoor and patio dining areas, because public health officials there fear showing the game would draw crowds and contribute to the spread of Covid-19.

At Burgers and Beer and Rancho Mirage, the owner and his customers are hoping for a super Sunday.

"One of the best Sundays of the year. Everybody loves football and we are ready for football this Sunday. A little back to normalcy and let's get it going," said owner Marco Honold.

"Especially with Covid, everybody needs to come out and support these businesses, they're all mom and pop places and we want to give them all the business we can," said customer Janeen Bahr.

Other valley restaurants offering outdoor viewing Sunday include Oscars in Palm Springs and Taqueria San Miguel in Thousand Palms.