ORLANDO, Fla. — The Amway Center has only been open for three weeks and already it's paying off for area businesses.
Patti Schmidt owns the dessert lady on Church Street, but business was anything but sweet two years ago.
"It was deserted downtown. I mean, there was just nothing going on," Schmidt said.
However, the Amway Center helped change that. Local businesses like Schmidt's have been rolling in the dough.
New restaurants have opened up and there's been no shortage of customers, especially on game night.
"We're talking about more than triple sales," she said.
To help keep sales going, 35 business owners along Church Street have joined forces to create the Church Street District. The group will post banners along the street and take their campaign online.
The goal is to market Church Street as the place to be and not just on game night.
While locals pack the restaurants on Church Street, the district also has its eyes set on another group; tourists along International Drive.
"I think we have something to offer a lot of demographics. We're going to have family events during the day so it's not just for adults," Church Street District member Lisa Cuatt said.
Schmidt says she is ready to cater to the crowds.
"The more things that are down here, the more of a draw it will be. This could be, I see, that it's possibly going to be a really great entertainment center," Schmidt said.
In the meantime, several bars on Church Street may be forced to file for bankruptcy. Three creditors have filed a bankruptcy petition against Church Street Concepts, which operates Mako's and Club 23.
The creditors claim the group owes more than $400,000.
WFTV
