Parade, celebration for the Canes, Stanley Cup champs, could boost Raleigh small businesses

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Excitement is building ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup championship parade and celebration on Saturday, with business owners expecting a surge in customers as fans gather downtown.

The parade will travel through the heart of downtown Raleigh, drawing large crowds eager to celebrate the team's victory and catch a glimpse of the Stanley Cup. Business owners along the route say the event comes at a welcome time after a slower period.

Retailers and restaurateurs are already seeing increased activity in the lead-up to the celebration. At Mode Raleigh, a consignment boutique in the Village District, store manager Ashten Partee said shoppers are preparing for game-related events and celebrations.

"They're shopping and they want outfits for those games. So it's been really fun," Partee said.

Partee added that staff have been helping customers plan for everything from watch parties to pregame dinners.

"Someone mentions that I'm going to a watch party tonight or I'm going to dinner before the game tonight. Then we'll ask, 'Do you have an outfit?' And of course, they always need one," she said.

The store is planning to increase staffing on Saturday to keep up with expected demand.

Other small business owners near the parade route are preparing for an influx of visitors.

Jaime Radar, co-owner of Munjo Munjo, said the store plans to stock up on items and adjust hours to accommodate customers.

"Hopefully it will bring a lot of people to our neighborhood here. We're going to put out some red stuff for the people that need some last minute, last minute gear for the celebrations," Radar said. "We'll probably try to open a little early for people who want to stop by before the parade."

Business advocates say the parade could provide a meaningful boost for small businesses that have struggled with decreased foot traffic in recent months.

Jennifer Martin, executive director of Shop Local Raleigh, said the energy surrounding the Hurricanes' championship is already encouraging more people to go out and support local establishments.

"It is so great to see the excitement around town, people going out for dinner, people going out for drinks, people just gathering in community spaces to get together and having that opportunity to create community through the shared love of supporting local but above all, supporting the Canes," Martin said.

Shop Local Raleigh staff say the increased activity tied to the parade is giving businesses a chance to recover from a downturn and reconnect with customers.

As Raleigh prepares to welcome fans downtown Saturday, business owners say they're ready to make the most of the moment - both by celebrating the Hurricanes and capitalizing on the economic opportunity the parade brings.

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