Business owners in Pittsburgh’s Strip District report disappointing foot traffic during the NFL draft, despite preparations for a busy weekend.The NFL draft brought 320,000 attendees on its first day, but Pittsburgh’s Strip District has seen unexpectedly low foot traffic, leaving business owners surprised and disappointed.“It was a ghost town down here,” said Greg Tenaglia, manager at Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. “People came from everywhere to set up on the sidewalks, thinking it was going to be a busy three or four days. So far, it’s been nothing.”Vendors lined the streets. Shops and restaurants were fully staffed and stocked, expecting a good weekend for business.“These are the small businesses that make up Pittsburgh, and it needs to be like Mardi Gras down here. I mean, the draft is huge,” said Juliette Murcko, of the Strip District.“They’re prepared. They’re putting out a lot of money to try to get more products, more alcohol, more food, just more people working, staffing. It’s all about the small businesses,” Murcko said. Sam Lagattuta, owner of Enrico Biscotti Co., said road closures and the draft’s focus on downtown Pittsburgh may have contributed to the low turnout. “With the road closures and everything, and just where the majority of the stuff is centered downtown, I think this was kind of an oversight for people. It definitely wasn’t the first stop. With the first day of the draft being yesterday, that was everybody’s priority,” Lagattuta said. And with the lack of heavy foot traffic, parking in the Strip District has been readily available, according to Crafton resident Charlette Jameson.”There’s plenty of parking down here. They’re not gouging, as far as parking prices that I’ve seen so far,” Jameson said. “The businesses are ready. Let’s get out here, Pittsburgh. Let’s support.”Andrew Rollo, a visitor from Long Island, New York, discovered the Strip District by chance and planned to return later Friday evening. “We’re going to come back after the draft tonight. They’ve kind of told us some places that are open. Love the music. There’s, like, five people doing music outside. We’re loving Pittsburgh right now,” Rollo said. Jameson encouraged locals to support the area.“There’s nobody on the roads. Let’s go. Let’s support our local businesses. They need us,” Jameson said. Business owners in the Strip District are hopeful for a better turnout as the draft continues through the weekend.

PITTSBURGH —

Business owners in Pittsburgh’s Strip District report disappointing foot traffic during the NFL draft, despite preparations for a busy weekend.

The NFL draft brought 320,000 attendees on its first day, but Pittsburgh’s Strip District has seen unexpectedly low foot traffic, leaving business owners surprised and disappointed.

“It was a ghost town down here,” said Greg Tenaglia, manager at Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. “People came from everywhere to set up on the sidewalks, thinking it was going to be a busy three or four days. So far, it’s been nothing.”

Vendors lined the streets. Shops and restaurants were fully staffed and stocked, expecting a good weekend for business.

“These are the small businesses that make up Pittsburgh, and it needs to be like Mardi Gras down here. I mean, the draft is huge,” said Juliette Murcko, of the Strip District.

“They’re prepared. They’re putting out a lot of money to try to get more products, more alcohol, more food, just more people working, staffing. It’s all about the small businesses,” Murcko said.

Sam Lagattuta, owner of Enrico Biscotti Co., said road closures and the draft’s focus on downtown Pittsburgh may have contributed to the low turnout.

“With the road closures and everything, and just where the majority of the stuff is centered downtown, I think this was kind of an oversight for people. It definitely wasn’t the first stop. With the first day of the draft being yesterday, that was everybody’s priority,” Lagattuta said.

And with the lack of heavy foot traffic, parking in the Strip District has been readily available, according to Crafton resident Charlette Jameson.

“There’s plenty of parking down here. They’re not gouging, as far as parking prices that I’ve seen so far,” Jameson said. “The businesses are ready. Let’s get out here, Pittsburgh. Let’s support.”

Andrew Rollo, a visitor from Long Island, New York, discovered the Strip District by chance and planned to return later Friday evening.

“We’re going to come back after the draft tonight. They’ve kind of told us some places that are open. Love the music. There’s, like, five people doing music outside. We’re loving Pittsburgh right now,” Rollo said.

Jameson encouraged locals to support the area.

“There’s nobody on the roads. Let’s go. Let’s support our local businesses. They need us,” Jameson said.

Business owners in the Strip District are hopeful for a better turnout as the draft continues through the weekend.