Merchants to benefit from event

Some eateries have scheduled extra people and ordered extra food.

Staff Report

VIENNA — The Thunderbirds air show at the Air Force Reserve base is attracting lots of visitors to the area and some economic benefits to local merchants.

For example, the Quality Inn and Suites on Belmont Avenue in Liberty Township, a couple of miles south of the air base, is completely booked for this weekend.

That means all 130 rooms are full for the first time in a while, said its owner and manager, Ashok Patel.

The last time an event drew so many people to the hotel was at about this time last year, when the PONY Nationals softball tournament was played during two weeks at 25 fields in Bazetta, Liberty, Warren, Canfield and Boardman.

Most of the reservations for the air show are for people from Ohio and Pennsylvania, Patel said.

“There is an [economic] advantage for my hotel,” Patel said of the air show.

Michael McCormick, general manager of the Perkins restaurant on Niles-Cortland Road in Howland, said he’s expecting extra business at his restaurant.

But because the economy has been down all year, he’s not sure whether to expect a big crowd or not.

“You just don’t know with the state of the economy,” he said.

McCormick has increased his scheduling of employees to work Friday through Sunday to handle increased traffic.

Helen Flaminio, a manager of the Yankee Kitchen Restaurant on state Route 193 just down the street from the air base, said the restaurant has extra people scheduled to work and full freezers and coolers of food.

“We have enough to take care of whatever, and people on call,” she said.

Stephanie Sferra, executive director of the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

SEE ALSO:Preparations are complete for air show in Vienna.