GREENSBORO, N.C.—
Merchants in downtown Greensboro are readying for a big sales day when crowds converge on S. Elm St. for the opening of the International Civil Rights Museum on Feb. 1.Sal Mascali, Manager at Pizzeria L'Italiano is excited about the new museum, which is located in the old Woolworth building, where The Greensboro Sit-ins started 50 years ago.
"We are really looking forward to it because its a big deal not only for downtown but for Greensboro in general." Mascali said.
Macali knows Feb. 1 will also be a big day for business. He plans to come in on Sunday, when the restaurant is normally closed, to prepare for Monday crowds.
"We are going to have enough pizzas, enough strombolis and sandwiches, we are going to be here all day long. We will be here until 3:00 in the morning if we have to." Mascali said.
Robin Mack Davis, who owns Mack and Mack, says the extra tourism will be helpful to downtown businesses.
"It will bring people from all over to downtown, so of course merchants down here are anxious for that tourist income." Davis said.
Davis plans to do all she can to draw business to her boutique on S. Elm St. on Feb. 1.
"We are going to have some signs out, and we are going to do some cosmetic facade things to make our store stand out, and we will be open a little later as well." Davis said.
Darren Worley with Center City Cafe hopes to work with museum as frequently as possible once it opens.
"We are going to try and be involved with them just as much as we can, and any way we can be a part of that being successful, of course that will make us successful." Worley said.
He expects the extra foot traffic to be good for business, too.
"We expect sales will be triple that day. There's going to be thousands of extra folks in. We are going to have all kinds of specials running." Worley said.
The opening of the museum will shut down some streets in downtown Greensboro. Elm St. will be closed from Washington St. to W. Market St. from 2:00 p.m. Jan 31 until 2:00 p.m. Feb. 1. One lane of Greene St. will also be closed from Washington St. to W. Market St.
