by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
Each year the Florida-Georgia game brings more than 100,000 fans to Jacksonville, bringing millions to the local economy. The few restaurants around Alltel Stadium probably feel the economic effect most directly. As the week wears on, their lunch lines swell with fans; by the time they close their doors Saturday, the owners all say they will have had their best sales week of the year.
The line stretching out Russ Doe Sandwich Shop’s front door mirrors the crowd that will fill Alltel Saturday — half red and black, half orange and blue. Owner Russ Smith Jr. said he’s always busy at lunch, but the Florida-Georgia game brings in bigger numbers.
“This is the biggest week of the year,” said Smith. “The people in these motor homes like to cook dinner, but we get them for breakfast and lunch.”
In addition to the breakfasts in boxes and the sandwiches that Smith sells, he said he also rents out his parking lot to tailgaters, many of whom stay all week.
Ann Farah, owner of Ann’s Sandwich Shop said she also recognizes the same faces every year.
“I still have a group of guys that come in here; when they first started coming they were just students,” said Farah. “Now they’re all married with families. Every year we see new faces, but it’s always fun to see the old faces.”
Farah didn’t want to share her game day sales figures, but said it’s by far her biggest sales day.
Her sales are good enough that Farah re-arranges her shop’s schedule — she only does it once a year — around the game’s kickoff and conclusion.
She said last year’s night game — it was an 8 p.m. kickoff to accommodate television — kept her staff hustling until after 11. The shop usually closes nine hours earlier.
“That’s probably the latest we’ve ever been open,” she said. “A 3:30 game [this year’s kickoff time] works the best. That gives us time to serve breakfast and lunch.”
Smith’s restaurant is usually closed weekends, but he said he opens for the Florida-Georgia game and Jacksonville Jaguars games. He said the pro games “can’t compare” to the business brought in by the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
“Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen was the Jaguars [AFC Championship] playoff game against the [Tennessee] Titans,” said Smith. “But that was just a day; this is a three or four day ordeal.”