As runners traverse streets and trails during the Steamtown Marathon, shops and eateries across Lackawanna County benefit from the extra foot traffic each year.
With approximately 1,300 participants winding their way through the 26.2 mile course from Forest City, in neighboring Susquehanna County, to Courthouse Square in Scranton on Sunday, small businesses from Carbondale to Blakely to Green Ridge welcome the influx of patrons.
Curt Camoni, executive director of the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, described the marathon — first held in 1996 — as a “solid economic impact event” that showcases the region’s natural amenities and spotlights the different offerings each area provides.
“It hits a lot of different communities, depending on where folks are going to watch it or where they decide to stay,” he said. “People know if they are anywhere near the footprint of activity for this event, they’re going to see an escalation in their business that weekend. It’s bringing in people from multiple different countries, and from all across our country. They stay in our hotels, and they shop and eat in our stores and restaurants.”
In addition to out-of-town guests, Camoni noted shops also benefit from the patronage of Northeast Pennsylvania residents during the weekend.
“You’re much more likely during the course of the day, standing along the street in Blakely, to stop in one of the shops and grab a coffee or have lunch,” he said. “With the traffic and everything, people get into position early so they’re going to have lunch and they’re going to grab some drinks. It’s a great situation to give every community in the footprint a little boost for that weekend.”
Sarah Weber, owner of Old & Brew along Main Street in the Peckville section of Blakely, sees new faces each year as race spectators pop into her shop.
“While Old & Brew isn’t directly on the marathon trail, over the past four years we have seen some organic foot traffic from the marathon due to the parking lot directly across the street,” she said. “Many have been from out of town who stop in for a coffee and are pleased to browse our unique concept of mixing coffee and vintage together, and some have even been repeat visitors.”
A patron walks inside Downtown Deli along Biden Street in downtown Scranton on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Denise Leppo, general manager of Downtown Deli along Biden Street in Scranton, noted the marathon provides a steady flow of customers for several days.
“Starting Friday, we’ll see an uptick in foot traffic,” she said. “There are more people downtown, more people out to eat, and that will go through the whole weekend. Sunday will be a little bit slower, just because of everything being closed down, but once it opens back up, the people start coming back out. We’ll get a lot of out-of-town people in for the race, but we still have our regulars who will show up.”
Leppo also anticipates the inaugural Steamtown Shortline — a 2.62-mile race set for Saturday morning that will start and finish at the Steamtown National Historic Site — will drive traffic to the restaurant.
“That will definitely bring people in,” she said. “Those 5Ks bring people out. We welcome it, we love it. Anytime there are a lot of people downtown, it’s a great time.”
Alex Ayala — who opened A’s Eatery along Sanderson Avenue in Scranton’s Green Ridge section in March 2025 — recalled seeing large crowds gathered to watch the race last year and expressed optimism for even stronger sales this Sunday now that his business is more established.
“Everyone came out and supported, I couldn’t complain,” he said. “I’m hoping for a lot more people.”
Trish Esgro, owner of Pinky’s Family Restaurant on North Main Street in Carbondale, typically sees about a 70% jump in business during Steamtown Marathon weekend as patrons gather to support the runners.
“People come in, enjoy a nice meal, and watch them out the window,” she said. “It brings a lot of people out because their families from all over are rooting them on.”