The Essence Festival is happening now, and it’s creating a business boom with the extra cash flow helping local businesses.In the French Quarter, small businesses are taking advantage of all the extra foot traffic and for Brittney Walker, owner of the B-Sweets Bistro, business is booming.”I’m expecting a large crowd and anticipating who’s going to walk through the doors because you never know who you’re going to see. Yesterday, insane. Today when I first opened, insane. I have not really had a chance to take a break, stop, pause,” said Walker.The small business owner said major events like the Essence Festival bring in the crowds, giving her a needed boost.”I decided to extend my hours. That’s something I’ve never done. Last year it was crazy, but I closed at my regular hours. I kind of got a feeling how the crowd would be but this is another level,” said Walker.And it’s not just the restaurants capitalizing on the revenue pouring into the city. Over at The Page, a local bar in the quarter, operating partner Willie Mackie said they too are bringing in the big bucks. “We haven’t even started tonight yet and we’ve already beat last year’s first night expectation,” said Mackie.According to Mayor Latoya Cantrell, Essence brings in an estimated $300 million, something Mackie said trickles into his business. “A seven-day week we’ll average in the teens of thousands of dollars right, seven days. In three days, we’ll do that three times,” said Mackie.He added, that revenue is beneficial considering it comes at a time when business is usually slow.”In the summer in New Orleans, you know the bar and restaurant industry really suffers. Well, when we come into July and Essence is here. It takes care a lot of things we didn’t have,” said Mackie.As both businesses gear up for what they call a long weekend, they’re preparing to cash in but also give visitors an authentic New Orleans experience. “The money will come but I’m really here for the experience. I’m here to see who’s going to come. I’m here to give these people a real New Orleans experience,” said Walker.
The Essence Festival is happening now, and it’s creating a business boom with the extra cash flow helping local businesses.
In the French Quarter, small businesses are taking advantage of all the extra foot traffic and for Brittney Walker, owner of the B-Sweets Bistro, business is booming.
“I’m expecting a large crowd and anticipating who’s going to walk through the doors because you never know who you’re going to see. Yesterday, insane. Today when I first opened, insane. I have not really had a chance to take a break, stop, pause,” said Walker.
The small business owner said major events like the Essence Festival bring in the crowds, giving her a needed boost.
“I decided to extend my hours. That’s something I’ve never done. Last year it was crazy, but I closed at my regular hours. I kind of got a feeling how the crowd would be but this is another level,” said Walker.
And it’s not just the restaurants capitalizing on the revenue pouring into the city. Over at The Page, a local bar in the quarter, operating partner Willie Mackie said they too are bringing in the big bucks.
“We haven’t even started tonight yet and we’ve already beat last year’s first night expectation,” said Mackie.
According to Mayor Latoya Cantrell, Essence brings in an estimated $300 million, something Mackie said trickles into his business.
“A seven-day week we’ll average in the teens of thousands of dollars right, seven days. In three days, we’ll do that three times,” said Mackie.
He added, that revenue is beneficial considering it comes at a time when business is usually slow.
“In the summer in New Orleans, you know the bar and restaurant industry really suffers. Well, when we come into July and Essence is here. It takes care a lot of things we didn’t have,” said Mackie.
As both businesses gear up for what they call a long weekend, they’re preparing to cash in but also give visitors an authentic New Orleans experience.
“The money will come but I’m really here for the experience. I’m here to see who’s going to come. I’m here to give these people a real New Orleans experience,” said Walker.
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