Drake neighborhood business owners ready and waiting for annual Drake Relays crowd
As thousands of people race to Des Moines for the Drake Relays, businesses in the Drake neighborhood say they're prepared for the annual rush they love to see.
According to Catch Des Moines, there are tens of thousands of people in the metro area for the Drake Relays and the festivities that occur throughout the week. While there are no official numbers yet, Catch Des Moines says the economic impact is in the millions.
"It's usually come Wednesday when the event starts. That's when we see a lot of people," said Daisy Miller, the assistant general manager of .
Lucky Horse is found on the corner of University Avenue and 24th Street in the Drake Neighborhood. Many others restaurants, cafes, and businesses are also in that 2300 block of University Avenue, which to some is known as the .
Miller tells vlog, the week of the Drake Relays is one of two big weeks for the businesses in the area. The other impactful week is during the Iowa High School Track & Field Championships.
"We staff usually double for the Drake Relays or around that just because we are going to be elbow to elbow like sardines in here," said Miller.
Miller says the Lucky Horse team certainly sees a financial boost. As a local business, they make sure others do, too.
"We're also keeping everything local — as local as possible," said Miller. "We're buying from local Des Moines suppliers and everything."
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