Some Brady Arts District Businesses Said They Lose Money Due To Marathon

Thousands of runners from all over the country and the world were getting settled in Tulsa Friday night, preparing for big races this weekend at the Route 66 Marathon. 

They're expected to spend a lot of money this weekend, but some Brady Arts District businesses said they are expecting to lose money.

The Tulsa Sports Commission said the Route 66 Marathon brought $5 million to Tulsa last year, and they're expecting the same this year. 

But the businesses in the Brady Arts District aren't seeing that kind of cash. 

Jeff Greiner, manager at Classic Cigars and Lounge, said he wouldn't want to work anywhere else. 

He said it's fun being a part of the Brady Arts District. 

But when it comes to the Route 66 Marathon, he said, "it's good and it's bad."

The good part, he said, is exposure. 

"It gets people maybe from Broken Arrow, or Jenks, Owasso to come down here and go, 'oh wow, this wasn't here 8-10 years ago,' and they're right," Greiner said. 

The bad: he already knows he won't be seeing some familiar faces this weekend. 

"My regulars know, 'hey that's going on, we're just not gonna come this weekend. We'll see ya next week," he said. 

Others said it takes a little extra planning. 

"We're just trying to plan around them as best we can," said Bob Fleischman with the Brady Arts District Business Association. 

Fleischman is the president of the Brady Arts District Business Association and he said there are about 20 events a year that require shutting down downtown streets. 

The roughly 60 businesses in the district, including his own - Chrysalis - find a way to adjust. 

"We're usually closed on Tuesdays but we'll be working on Tuesday to help make up for our Sunday being closed," Fleishman said. 

But Greiner said he wants to see the city make some adjustments when it comes to parking.

"They need to add garages, lots, because that seems to have been a slow afterthought that they're waking up to," Greiner said.  

Fleischman said the Route 66 Marathon is doing something he'd like to see more of, encouraging people to stick around after an event, and spend their time and money in the Brady Arts District. 

The Brady Arts District Business Association is working on an economic impact study to get a closer look at how events happening here affect business That study should take at least a year to complete.