MEDIA — “There is a possibility of nine straight days of Phillies World Series and Eagles games being played, and even Union Soccer playoffs,” exclaimed Steve Byrne, executive director of Visit Delco, Pa.
“The excitement it is bringing to Delco and this whole area is incredible,” he said. “This time of year, you always hear ‘go Birds.’ Now, it’s ‘go Phils’ and even our own hometown soccer team, ‘go Union.’ How exciting is that?”
The Philadelphia pro teams on winning streaks not only creates excitement in the air locally, but it also creates a big boost in sales to local businesses, including those in Delaware County.
“When our sports teams do well, the entire region benefits,” said Trish McFarland, president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s an unbelievable feeling across our fan base to see the Phillies in the World Series, the Union advancing to the Conference Finals and the Eagles being 6-0 and we know these celebrations are driving a significant boom in our local economy.”
“Our restaurants are seeing an increase in foot traffic as more people go out to watch the games, the retail industry is seeing a spike in merchandise sales and the hotels will enjoy increased booking,” she added. “This is a win-win for everyone!”
The Phillies advancing to the World Series mostly always means a dramatic economic increase for local bars and restaurants.
“There is nothing greater of a revenue boost for neighborhood bars that could even come close to the Phillies running deep into the playoffs and World Series … absolutely nothing,” stated Patrick “PJ” Dolan, owner of Dolan’s Bar in Ridley Park.
Dolan said his popular establishment at 24 E. Sellers Ave. will pull out all stops for the World Series games, by not only having the game play on the bar’s screens, but also featuring former Phillies players watching the game with bar patrons.
Dolan stated that he plans to have Mickey Morandini at Game Six — if it’s needed and Phils fans hope not — on Nov. 4.
In addition to taverns, restaurants also see an upsurge of business during a winning streak like this. Many restaurant owners see it as an opportunity to quickly offer specials to draw in the extra business.
La Padella at 100 State Road, Media, immediately posted on social media that they are taking orders for their World Series takeout party trays. They’re charging a flat fee for party sandwich trays of hot roast beef, meatballs and/or sausage n peppers and two dozen rolls. Cost is $90-$120 and the party tray feeds 20-25 hungry fans.
According to Steve Reynolds, COO of Marple Public House, 31 N. Sproul Road in Broomall, the pub is in the middle of The Philly Palooza: those nine straight days of Philly sports, with $2 beers, a late night kitchen, half-priced appetizers, and Delco steaks on the patio.
“We’ll see a big number of gatherings to watch the games, from neighborhoods, to families to just friends, looking to cheer on the home team,” Byrne said. “This will be a big boost to restaurants and to the whole food and beverage industry.”
Local shops selling pizza, cheesesteaks, chicken wings and hoagies always see a surge in sales at game times. During special games like the Super Bowl or World Series, the business jump is significant.
Over at Thunderbird II on Saxer Avenue in Springfield, in addition to the orders for the usual game fare, orders are rolling in for their Phillies Tomato Pie. The pie, which costs $23, is cut into 32 pieces.
“The team name ‘Phillies’ is stenciled across the top in parmesan cheese,” said owner Steve Landers. “Customers can order a few days or a few hours in advance by calling Thunderbird II at 610-328-1131. We will be taking orders and delivering our regular menu up until ten each night.”
Landers said Thunderbird will also have specials and big screens for watching the game at his other restaurant, Yosemite Burrito, 150 Saxer Ave., Springfield.
“It’s spacious over there and will make a nice gathering space to watch the games,” he said.
With another original offering, Delco Steaks, 336 Kedron Ave., Folsom and 2567 West Chester Pike, Broomall, has partnered with Carangi Baking Company in Philadelphia this week to offer “The Delcodelphia,” a 20 ounce black angus ribeye steak sandwich with Cooper Sharp cheese on a Carangi seedless Italian “P” shaped roll. Each day, for the remainder of the World Series, Delco Steaks will offer the specialty sandwich in celebration of the Phillies.
Bakeries, too
Local bakeries are also seeing an increase in business and are firing up their ovens in overtime, preparing for festive World Series parties and pep rally gatherings.
Jacquette’s Bakery, 2076 Sproul Road, Broomall, offers Phillies specialized cakes, cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts and even a new Phanatic Phan Box. The Phan Box, which retails for $40, contains four Phillies donuts, four sugar cookies, four Phillie Phanatic cupcakes, two brownies and four chocolate chip cookie sandwiches.
Gabriella Messina, manager at Jacquette’s, said that the bakery has already sold thousands of cupcakes and customers keep coming in for more.
“We have seen a steady stream of customers and many new faces and younger customers who have never been here before,” Messina said. “We have a heavy marketing presence on Facebook and Instagram. We’ve been here for 43 years and all week we’ve had new faces coming in, saying it’s their first time here because they saw our Phillies-themed baked goods shared on social media and wanted to get some.”
Michelle Faragalli, manager of Traub’s Bakery, 1020 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Park, echoed Messina’s remarks.
Business at Traub’s has increased by at least half this past week, as customer after customer flocked to get Traub’s Phillies cupcakes and cookies. Traub’s also puts out Phillies donuts, which are selling briskly each day.
“We hand cut our donuts, so now we are using the same Phillies P cookie cutter that we use to make Phillies cookies to make our donuts and customers love them,” Faragalli shared.
The bakery sold out of their first 100 cupcakes quickly, so they just keep making more batches.
“We have plenty,” she said. “And we just keep baking.”
Although Faragalli said customers can order ahead of time, they can also just walk in on a first-come, first-served basis to pick out what they want.
“We live in Delco where everyone loves the Phillies, so we knew our Phillies cakes and cupcakes would be best-sellers,” Faragalli said.
Flags and more
It’s not only baked goods that are flying off store shelves.
The Flag & Sign Place at 2510 West Chester Pike, Broomall, watched their Phillies flags completely sell out on Monday, the day after the Phillies won the National League Championship Series.
“It’s funny, too, because just a few weeks ago, one of our employees asked if we should move the flags to the back of the store like we normally do every year when baseball season is winding down,” said Flag & Sign Place owner Karen Hauber. “Then, suddenly, the Phillies go on this winning streak and I said, bring the flags back out front.”
Hauber said her phone has been ringing off the hook with flag requests. She has three more bulk orders in to the manufacturer and was restocked by Wednesday, with plenty of Phillies flags for fans. She made sure to order more than usual. The flags come in three sizes and a variety of designs.
“So far, we have sold more than ten times what we usually sell this time of year,” Hauber stated.
In addition to having a plethora of Phillies flags available to purchase, customers can pre-order World Series “winner” flags, without leaving a deposit.
Hauber places the order and if the Phillies win the Series, the flags begin getting printed that same night and are ready in a day or two for pickup.
“We did this when the Eagles won, so we know what we are doing,” Hauber said.
Purchases of existing flags and pre-orders of the winner flags can be done by going into the store, online at http://www.flagandsignplace.com, phone at 610-353-3393, or email at [email protected].
Hotels and more
Byrne said he expects to see a surge in hotel traffic, as well.
“Part of the Philadelphia International Airport is actually in Delaware County and we have a number of hotels that are down by the airport, so those hotels, as well as others, should see an increase in visitors coming to the games,” Byrne stated. “From the airport hotels, it’s an easy ride up (Interstate) 95 to Citizens Bank Park.”
As soon as the Phillies won the playoffs and were World Series bound, the printing presses went into overtime for clothing businesses and Delco-owned businesses were no different.
“With the Phillies and Eagles playing so well this year, our sales have shot up 25% or more,” commented Matt Thompson, who with business partner Steve Klein, co-owns Blue Rooted, based in Havertown.
Internet-based bluerooted.com offers clothing with Delco-Philly flair. Blue Rooted, established in 2015, has quick turnaround of only a few days on their orders.
“We get things out in two-three days, but if a game is about to happen, we have even delivered merchandise,” Thompson said. “We want our customers to have the gear for the games.”
Blue Rooted opens their office at 1617 Darby Road on Friday nights after Thanksgiving, so customers can shop in-person, if they choose, for holiday gifts.
“Locals love our merchandise because our things are creatively designed and different from other stuff,” Thompson said.
Right now, “Red October” shirts and “Delco” shirts in Phillies colors are selling briskly, along with all the other Phillies and Eagles merchandise.
At Clothes Quarters, 521 MacDade Blvd., Folsom, the merchandise is selling out as fast as it arrives, said owner David Wiesen.
“We have official Phillies National League Champion and World Series merchandise,” Wiesen stated. “We have had a steady stream of customers coming in, with new shipments of merchandise arriving daily.”
Clothes Quarters carries officially licensed Phillies and Eagles children’s clothing, infant to size 20 and adult clothing small to 5X.
The store also carries earrings, pennants, socks, beads and more. When asked what his hottest sellers were last week, Wiesen said the Phillies roster T-shirts, long sleeve T-shirts and hats.
Byrne said the Phillies being in the World Series is probably a bigger economic boost to the area than the Eagles in the Super Bowl because there are more games in the Series so fans stay in the area longer.
