by Hank Brockett
7/15/01
The restaurant, 23956 Illinois 53 south, won't be like that much longer.
In a few hours, the race will be finished and both locals and visitors will fill one of the closest establishments to the speedway and its RV denizens.
"There's people in the hot stands and they're going to want a good meal and a refreshing drink," says Bob Boban Sr., owner of the restaurant and bar.
Like many other local businesses, plenty of preparation has gone into this week's races.
Boban says he revamped his dining area, knocking out a wall and adding seating for 130 people.
He also scheduled nearly a dozen more people to work during the busy post-race rushes.
"The whole week has been extremely busy," he says.
"Hundreds and hundreds of people from all around the country come, and you know, they are some of the nicest people around."
Advance preparation and welcome cash drawers also were the case in other local businesses, many which were accustomed to steady local traffic with not many peaks or valleys.
But with the addition of the Route 66 Raceway and the Chicagoland Speedway, and the regular schedule of events that come with them, owners and managers find themselves with hordes of first-time customers. Looking for ice
And what do race fans need to enjoy the weekend? Ask a business and they will tell you -- ice, a cold gold for spectators in need of cold drinks.
At the Gas City/Subway, 2102 E. Laraway Road in Joliet, the speedway can't be seen, but the slow groan of the engines sure can be heard.
So can the steady stream of customers looking for water, pop, grocery items and ice.
Store Manager Kim Tovo said a semitrailer truck full of ice stays right next to her store just to handle the high turnover of ice bags.
As for other vendors, they were called ahead of time to bring double and triple the normal product.
"Our Subway just rocks with the races," she said. "Our sales are phenomenal."
At Gas City, things were busy as expected on Thursday and Friday, but Tovo predicted the most customers will come in today, stocking up before the race and bombarding the store after the race.
But for spectators looking for alcoholic beverages, they had to look elsewhere. Gas City/Subway does not yet hold an operational liquor license.
That could change by September when Indy cars come rolling into town, which would increase the amount of customers to even greater levels. Grocery stocks up
Down the road at Berkot's Foods in Manhattan, cases of beer are stacked to the ceiling, dwarfing the cardboard racer cutouts beside them.
Planning at one of the closest grocery stores to the racetrack has been going on for the past few weeks.
"It's kind of interesting," said receiver Diane Turnbough, who had to wade through all the increased amounts of pop, beer and buns. "We kind of get bored here once in a while."
Assistant manager Jeff Hoffman said flyers handed out in the campgrounds direct fans to the store, as do signs sporadically placed along Illinois 53. They also expected heavy traffic Saturday night and a very eventful race day today.
Even businesses that don't offer the quick consumable goods are taking advantage of the races.
J.A.K.S. Video, 23934 Illinois 53 in Elwood, lies near the epicenter of the racing population and it looks the part. Souvenirs in the parking lot and inside offer all kinds of proof for NASCAR fandom.
Owner Royann Moore said from her standpoint behind the counter, the races so far have proven much less of a hassle than the first major event at the Route 66 Raceway.
Then, police blocked both the entrances to her store to curb drivers looking for an easy U-turn.
This year the police have been much kinder to her business and haven't turned away any potential customers.
And potential customers are what's driving extra sales and extra profits for these local businesses.
"This has really helped the economy of the immediate area," said Boban, a NASCAR fan himself even before the monetary benefit. "I truly feel blessed."
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