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Speedway shops prep for Rolling Stones concert business

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Nearly 50,000 people are expected to attend the Rolling Stones concert, which will be the first time Speedway has hosted such a large July 4 celebration.

There are several locally owned shops and restaurants along Main Street that will be closed Saturday.

But several are hoping the concert means more business.

The Goodin family traveled to Speedway from Bloomington for one reason: the Rolling Stones concert.

They’ve had tickets for months.

“We bought them as soon as they went on sale along with the RV pass,” Mike Goodin said.

The couple decided to make a weekend of it, and Friday they walked the mile from the RV park downtown to shop and eat.

“I’d read a lot of articles about it and we figured we’d walk down here and take a look while we were here,” he said. “And that was one of the things we said we wanted to do by coming here early on Friday.”

They are among thousands of visitors descending upon Speedway this weekend.

For shop owner Tina Wilson, that means working on a holiday she’s usually closed.

“There’s going to be a lot of people around so if you’ve got a concert going on and they’re saying 50,000-plus (people) and you own a business, your door should be open,” Doodadz owner Tina Wilson said.

She’s hoping people wander over before the concert, then she’s going to have some fun herself.

“I’m probably going to stay open until 7 or 7:30 and then I’m going to the concert,” she said.

Down the block, the owner of Barbecue and Bourbon hopes to draw those same pre-concert customers.

“Coolers aren’t allowed in, so they can’t carry their own food in, so we’re hoping they’re going to stop in here, have some lunch before they head over when the gates open at four,” Owner of Barbecue and Bourbon, Marcia Huff said.

And she’s excited to introduce new Speedway visitors to her restaurant with hopes they might return again during a race weekend.

“And even if they don’t eat here at least they’ll see us and know that we’re here for future times,” she said.

Some of the shops said they might re-open again after the concert and fireworks show.