Businesses benefiting from busy weekend in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is host to some of the valley’s biggest events with the White Party, Modernism Week and the International Film Fest returning year after year.

Now, this weekend’s second annual Palm Trees and Tattoos Convention is pushing to join their ranks.

It’s hard to miss all the tattoo enthusiasts strolling the streets in Palm Springs.

More people means more business, especially for those in downtown.

Bill’s Pizza is conveniently located right across the street from the convention and enjoys the extra foot traffic.

“They were here last year. We got a lot of business from them and this year we expect the same,” manager Steve Swetz said.

The same is true for Peabody’s Caf and Bar.

“It’s funny, this morning we were waiting for them and all of a sudden we see people dribble in with sleeves and we’re like, ‘Yay, the tattoo convention woke up finally,'” owner Debby Alexander said.

Both restaurants agree any summer business is good business.

“Any business in the summer is just a ‘gimmie,’ especially restaurants like myself that stay open 365 days a year,” Alexander said.

A more controversial gathering is also taking place this weekend.

The Mongol Motorcycle Gang is holding a private event just down the road at the Hilton.

After the American Heat Biker weekend was canceled earlier this week, some wonder why this weekend’s gathering of the Mongol’s Motorcycle gang is fair.

Alexander declined to comment on the event, but Swetz said he is fine with the visitors as long as everyone behaves themselves.

“If it brings in positive business, I’m all for it. But if it brings in negative business not so much,” Swetz said.

Some locals said a different crowd could be good for the city.

“It helps out every business out here and it gets more people to keep coming,” said Silvia Munoz of Cathedral City.

“Normally summer time is our dead time where the economy kind of goes down so it brings more people around here and helps the business out,” Rafael Escoto from Cathedral City said.

And if it brings in a diverse group of consumers, some businesses are all for it.

“We’ve always set up our place to be so inclusive. And we love the L.A. crowd. And that’s one of the things I love about Southern California is that it’s so diverse,” Alexander said.

“I know that there’s a lot of effort by the city of Palm Springs to increase business during the summer and I believe that they’re doing a great job, because it’s actually working,” Swetz said.