Frontier Days can bring the bucks

On the last weekend in July, large crowds make their way to downtown Whitehall for the annual Frontier Days Celebration.

While the annual event features many vendors and food and drink options, it can also have a positive impact on many local businesses.

Pepper Tree Deli and Catering owner Steve Jenkins said the restaurant was really busy, and that they also did concessions at the rodeo event.

He said on Friday, July 29 his business was up 24 percent from the same day a year prior, and that overall it was 40 percent up from a normal Friday.

"It was a good weekend," Jenkins said.

Legends Bar and Grill Manager Brandy Hungerford said if not the busiest, Saturday July 30 was their busiest day of the year.

"One day was over $3,000 in sales and that's not typical," she said.

Other businesses in Whitehall do not however see as much of an increase during the event. Corner Store owner Tim Mulligan said while he did he an increase from prior years on Saturday, Frontier Days is one of his lower weekends in sales during the summer. Mulligan said it is hard for customers to get to the gas pumps and there is a lot of direct competition with vendors. He said while it is not a big boon for his business he thinks the event is good for the town.

Rodeway Inn General Manager Amy Frankenstein said they fill up every weekend during the summer, so they did not see much of an impact.