LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Some local small business owners say their profits were night and day between F1 and the Super Bowl.
Randy Markin has two businesses right on East Flamingo.
The temporary bridge put up by F1 cut off access for weeks.
Then the Super Bowl came to town, the bridge came down, and customers were back.
“We’re old Vegas, we don’t have to impress Wall Street, we just have to make sure our staff is doing well,” said Randy Markin.
Markin says his employees are like family.
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Between Stage Door Casino and Battista’s Hole in the Wall, he has over 100 people on the payroll.
When F1 put up a temporary bridge on East Flamingo cutting off access, his family suffered.
“They made nothing,” said Markin. “The bartenders at Stage Door on Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights might make $1,000 a night. When F1 was here they were making $25 a night.”
Fortunately, the Super Bowl was up next bringing back customers and even the Budweiser Clydesdales to the corner just east of the Las Vegas Strip.
“Having the Super Bowl and NFL here was fantastic,” said Markin. “They knew how to integrate into the community. They worked with charities, with kids, they were involved, and if they saw a problem they were on it.”
Inside Stage Door, 89-year-old regular Jim Bennett says he noticed a difference too.
“89 and doing fine,” said Bennett.
He made it a point to walk to the casino during F1 but knows not everyone else could.
Last Sunday, he says his favorite haunt was packed as his Chiefs won it all.
“It was great, it was pins and needles, up and down,” said Bennett. “They went into overtime couldn’t be any tighter than that.”
The Super Bowl broadcast stage in front of Bellagio is now coming down.
According to a county spokesperson, work should wrap up Friday.
Then yet another construction project begins.
“The Water District is going to have to replace the main water lines going from Koval to the Strip which means we’re going to be down to one lane starting in March for 3-4 months and then right after that, starts construction for F1 again,” said Markin.
It’s never-ending.
“It really hurts the income of all our employees,” said Markin.
Employees who depend on loyal customers like Bennett are here for the big events and on an average Wednesday, cone zone or not.
“This is a great place, it’s the best neighborhood bar in Las Vegas,” said Bennett.