RESTAURANTS, supermarkets and hotels are just some of the businesses reaping the rewards as race fans flock to the city in the lead up to the Bathurst 1000.
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With the city’s population expected to more than double this weekend, business is booming in the CBD as race fans give the local economy a much-needed boost.
Bernardi’s IGA manager Geoff Bottom said the supermarket had been flat strap since Tuesday.
He estimated business in the supermarket jumped about 25 per cent during Race Week.
“It’s a very big boost to the business,” he said. “Race Week is very good for Bathurst, and it continues right up until Sunday.
“It’s great for the community and great for the town.”
Among the biggest-selling items at IGA during the week are alcohol, meat, fresh bread, bakery items and anything from the deli.
Knickerbocker Hotel owner Scott Macallister said he was expecting this week to be busy.
“Really, it started grand final day and has building ever since. Tuesday was good, but Wednesday, the day of the parade, was unbelievable,” he said.
“Whatever they [council and race organisers] did, and getting the drivers involved in the parade, worked really well.”
Mr Macallister said accommodation at the hotel had been booked out and sales at the bottle shop were phenomenal.
“I was only saying to someone this morning it’s amazing how the city turns from a thriving country town to this great entertainment mecca,” he said.
“We are being inundated with 60,000 visitors a day. During race weekend, we usually take what we’d normally make in one month in four days.”
Mayor Gary Rush said the financial benefits for the region were massive.
“This week injects more than $21 million into the local economy as around 200,000 tickets are sold across the four-day event, and it has been great to see over 50 local businesses getting into the spirit of this year’s event with spectacular window displays,” he said.
“The off-track activities, such as the Saturday Street Fair, will draw thousands of people to the city’s CBD for the day of family fun and entertainment.”