Nearby businesses seeing boost from Ottawa Bluesfest crowds

Thousands of music fans are expected to make their way to LeBreton Flats this weekend as Ottawa Bluesfest continues, but it’s not just the festival grounds seeing the crowds.

Thousands of music fans are expected to make their way to LeBreton Flats this weekend as Ottawa Bluesfest continues, but it’s not just the festival grounds seeing the crowds. Businesses within walking distance of the venue west of downtown Ottawa say the annual festival has become one of their busiest times of the year, with customers stopping in before the gates open and returning after the encore. At Beyond the Pale Brewing Company, located just off Albert Street, staff were busy serving customers ahead of Hardy’s performance on Saturday evening.

“It’s great for us. It’s one of our busiest weeks of the year, every year,” said Rob McIsaac, co-founder of Beyond the Pale. McIsaac estimates the brewery welcomes roughly 100 additional customers each day during Bluesfest.

Being just a 15-minute walk from LeBreton Flats makes it a popular stop for concertgoers looking for food and drinks before heading to the festival. “We’re one of the closest bars and restaurants close by, so we fill up around 4 or 5 o’clock before the shows,” McIsaac said. “At the end of the night, you see the migration back for those people still looking for another beverage before heading home.”

Beyond the Pale isn’t the only business benefiting from the festival crowds. At Prohibition Public House on Somerset Street West, staff say Bluesfest consistently brings an increase in customers throughout the festival. “There’s a whole bunch of different events that happen here throughout the year, so it’s nice to be in such a great neighbourhood for that kind of stuff,” said head chef Alex Pruner.

While many customers stop in before the concerts begin, Pruner says the busiest rush comes after the headlining acts wrap up. “Our bar will get hit really hard around 12 once the main show’s done and all the crowds are leaving. They all kind of make their way over here,” he said.

Saturday’s headliner, country star Hardy, drew fans to LeBreton Flats hours before the gates opened. Lauren Manna and Justine Albrechtas visiting Ottawa for Bluesfest together for the first time, arrived early to secure a good spot for the concert. Despite it being their first trip to the festival, they have seen Hardy perform 36 times.

With several hours to wait before the performance, the pair planned to grab food and drinks nearby after the show. “We’ll probably find somewhere to go,” Albrechtas said. “We just go with the flow,” Manna added.

To accommodate the increased demand, Beyond the Pale has extended its operating hours until 2 a.m. during Bluesfest. McIsaac says they’re expecting another busy week as thousands more concert goers make their way through LeBreton Flats before the festival wraps up.