Downtown Mpls. Businesses Learning to Survive Without Major Events

The 2012 U.S. Open Racquetball Championship are serving up some fast serves at the Target Center. It is one of three events that's taken place this week.

First the Lynx continued play towards their repeat as the WNBA Champions on Thursday. UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championships got as real as it gets on Friday.

Kelsea Chamberlin of the 508 club on 1st Avenue North says, the events are a godsend.

"We like events around here, it's what we live off of," Chamberlin said.

According to the "Minneapolis Downtown Council," downtown celebrates 150 days of events per year, bringing in 2.5 million people. But some businesses say, the numbers don't always mean big bucks.

Peter McLoughlin of Donovan's Pub says, business is up by 20% when there is an event night. But the days without an event can be challenging.

" It's tough downtown when there are no events going on," McLoughlin said.

Maintaining a strong business like the 508 club and Donovan's means being versatile. Flexible in the sense that pubs, restaurants to clubs have theme nights

"We do have a bit of a following Sunday nights because we do a little bit of happy hour, we do karaoke here on a Sunday night, we have open mic night on Monday night to try and keep people coming in," McLoughlin said.

Business owners say, one way they keep people coming through the door is by not making them pay a cover charge.

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