BOAT SHOW BUMPS UP BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN
April 16th, 2021
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 16, 2021) – Restaurants in Downtown West Palm Beach saw a significant increase in revenue during the 2021 Palm Beach International Boat Show compared to the same period in 2019. The return of the popular March event, after its 2020 hiatus, drew crowds to the Downtown District.
“We did an anecdotal survey of Downtown’s restaurants and concluded that the Boat Show definitely increased sales this year – some over 20% as compared to the very healthy 2019 numbers,” said Raphael Clemente, Executive Director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA). “All of the owners we talked to said they saw this increase as very encouraging and hope the momentum holds, as restaurants were among the worst affected due to the pandemic.”
While the largest increases in sales were reflected in Clematis St. restaurants, eateries on other streets also saw increases. A point of interest is that the surge in sales extended way beyond the Boat Show event area up into the 500 block, where Kapow Noodle Bar saw a 30 percent increase in sales. Kapow is an Asian-fusion restaurant that opened in 2017 that serves small plates, cocktails and ramen.
Pistache French Bistro at 101 N. Clematis St. and Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar at 224 Clematis St. gave their sales numbers to the DDA, reporting a five percent increase for Pistache and 20 percent increase for Rocco’s over 2019.
“These increases show that our large events are very significant economic drivers, and indicate that activity in Downtown is definitely improving,” said Teneka James-Feaman, Associate Executive Director for the DDA.
For more information on the West Palm Beach DDA or Downtown West Palm Beach, please visit DowntownWPB.com.
About the Downtown Development Authority
The West Palm Beach DDA is an independent taxing district created in 1967 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. Its mission is to promote and enhance a safe, vibrant Downtown for our residents, businesses and visitors through the strategic development of economic, social and cultural opportunities.
For more information about the DDA or Downtown West Palm Beach, please visit DowntownWPB.com or call the DDA at (561) 833-8873.