SILVIS, Ill. — Each year, the John Deere Classic brings people from all over to the town of Silvis, Illinois. And each year, the local businesses benefit from the extra traffic.
A new coffee spot in Silvis, Octeen Energy & Coffee Bar, opened on June 11, about a mile down the road from TCP Deere Run. Since then, employee Brody Tolend said that business is steady, but the classic has brought in more customers during the week. Manager Kyra Bohannon said although she doesn’t remember his name, she did recall a golfer coming through the drive-through on his way to the tournament. Octeen is the closest coffee spot to the tournament, so Bohannon said that a lot of people stop in on their way to the tournament in the mornings. The surge has driven up their sales to about $700 a day since the classic started.
Another local restaurant, 11th Hour Bar and Grill, is just a few miles down the road from the classic and has seen an increase in business over the week of the tournament as well. Employee Amanda Sherwood shared that she loves seeing people from all over stop in for a bite or a drink before and after the classic.
“I like to ask them where they’re from," Sherwood said.
Sherwood also said that some customers even come back in the years following. She says that it’s not just great for 11th Hour Bar and Grill but also the hotels and grocery stores that see an increase in business when there’s an influx of people in town.
"We are a small town, so it’s great to see,” she said.
The classic wrapped up Sunday, June 7, and businesses are expecting to see customers coming in until after the Lainey Wilson concert.
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel