Local Retailers Seek ‘Homerun’ During Regionals

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — America’s favorite past time of baseball belongs to the state of South Carolina this weekend. The two-time defending national champion USC Gamecocks baseball team has a rep to protect. It’s one of three state teams playing in Columbia’s Regional of the NCAA baseball tournament. But it’s the local retailers that say they’re hitting a home run. Director of Sales for Columbia’s downtown Sheraton, Jennifer Bolling, estimates a 15% – 2-% increase in business this weekend. That could explain why Friday’s downtown commute was more crowded than usual. Once fans get checked in and decked out in their favorite team gear, they have to eat, and that means local restaurants are also cashing in Lizard’s Thicket manager, Matthew Williams, says the sharp increase in foot traffic in his restaurant and others around town, is a sure sign of increasing their bottom line. Regardless of which team comes out on top when the weekend ends, Midlands businesses are already putting a ‘W’ on the record books.