The Montreal Canadiens clinched a playoff spot in this year’s NHL season — good news for local merchants and fans alike.
Bars and restaurants in the city are getting ready for a surge in local spending.
Ziggy Eichenbaum, who runs Ziggy’s Pub, remembers the 1993 playoff run and is ready for the crowds to come as the first round begins.
“You double up the bartenders, you double up the beer orders, you double up the booze orders, and people are just happy,” he says.
“You walk downtown right now, everybody is smiling!”
Playoff hockey also pulls in more visitors, said Rod Applebee at Hurley’s Pub. He says Canadians may be boycotting the U.S. over the trade war, but that’s not stopping Americans from coming north.
“They’re coming up and they’re loving the city and it just adds to the energy there. And they’ve been great. And it’s not political talk. It’s all hockey talk,” says Applebee.
Santana Enrique at Sports Crescent makes sure to have everyone’s favourite jersey, but he worries that if the Habs don’t make it to the second round he’ll have overstock.
“We get very busy if they go through the first round. But if they get finished in four on the first round, it’s not good for business,” he says.
“We already order a lot of merchandise….se we could be stuck with it. Again.”
But Eichenbaum says no worries, he’s got a guarantee.
“We are going to go to the second round guaranteed! I guarantee it!” he says.
The quarter finals for the Eastern Conference playoffs begin for the Canadiens on April 21 when they visit The Washington Capitals.
