Time for the "Bix Beat." It's a busy week for volunteers and everyone getting ready for the race and festival. Every summer Bix activities attract around 20,000 people to the Quad Cities, meaning big business for restaurants, hotels, and retail. At the Barrel House, which is just a street over from where the race will start and finish, preps are already underway to make sure there will be enough food and drinks to feed the masses. Although festivities won't kick off for several more days, it's move many businesses are making in anticipation for a very busy weekend.
"I am getting ready by drinking lots of red bull and eating a lot of wheaties," said Brian Wales, Barrel House General Manager.
Wales said the Barrel House opened during Bix weekend last year, so to celebrate , the restaurant is throwing a big birthday bash. It's something that takes a lot of hard work and supplies, even on a regular weekend.
"It's actually going to be huge for us. We are limiting our menu for the weekend so we can be able to best serve everyone were going to have in, but we've also got TPC down here with a truck. We're going to have cold storage outside and we're going to be loaded with food."
The Barrel House will also be loaded with servers.
"In Michael, our owner's infinite wisdom, he's sponsored a couple of softball teams and a soccer team. A lot of people are going to volunteer for us that weekend."
Other restaurants along the route, like the Urban Grind and Bowls, are also beefing up their staff. The Urban Grind even hired a new employee because of the race, and Bowls will have all hands on deck. Both places have also been stocking up on ingredients.
"We're getting pumped,. We are about to do a bigger food order to make sure we meet the demand of it," Bowls Chef, Chris Torres said.
Another business trying to meet demand is Running Wild. Store Owner Doug Foster said he puts shoes on sale for the month of July in order to draw in the crowds. Plus he sets up a booth at the Bix Expo.
"July in retail isn't that busy, but because of the Bix, the impact that has on our store which specializes in running, does make a difference."
All the businesses said they hope their hard work pays off. Meanwhile, those with the Quad City Convention and Visitors Bureau said their phone has been ringing off the hook with visitor's questions,. Therefore, businesses should have nothing to worry about.
"We're looking at a 3 million dollars economic impact. We take into consideration for that, number of hotel rooms booked and average spending for a visitor which is about $150 per day," said Charlotte Morrison, Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
