Chicago restaurants, expecting big crowds from DNC, call event 'a total bust'

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Thousands of people have arrived in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), but some local restaurants say they’re frustrated by a lack of business during one of Chicago's biggest events of the year.

“We were expecting more people, honestly,” said Marcel Rodriguez, who manages Pittsfield Cafe in the Loop.

In a press release sent in July, DNC officials projected an economic impact of roughly $150 million across the entire city. Rodriguez, though, said the turnout at her restaurant has been disappointing.

She’s not alone. Management at Wildberry Cafe described the week as “a total bust” and told WBBM their sales were worse than any normal day in Chicago.

Rodriguez brought in extra staff in preparation for the breakfast and lunch rush, but those rushes never came.

“What I know: Some are working from home,” Rodriguez said. “They are not coming because they are expecting traffic and all that.”

She said sales were about half of what they usually are on any given day.

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