the green and gold win
Fond du Lac businesses with sports connections noticed a bump canvas painting in traffic as the Green Bay Packers made it into the playoffs. And with the Wisconsin Badgers playing in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Bob Lemense, owner of Pump N Pantry at nfl jerseys 329 W. Pioneer Road, said he sells Packers jerseys, framed pictures, miniature helmets and plaques, among other small Packers keepsakes. Clay Matthews, Donald Driver, Greg swiss watch brand Jennings and Aaron Rodgers are popular players for merchandise seeking patrons. Customers also place numerous orders for chicken on game days.

Snacks, beer and soda also sell well before Packers games. “We do get a boost any time the Packers make the playoffs,” he said. “It makes January go faster.” Authentic jerseys, especially for Clay Matthews and Aaron Rodgers, are selling quickly, said Jack Francis, owner of communion dresses Team Sports, 179 S. Main St. He said he ran out of jerseys due to the holidays, but he’s hoping to have more in stock as soon as possible. In the meantime, customers are looking at knit hats, baseball caps, pennants, bobble heads and trinkets — anything with the sports team logo. Francis said his sales increase as the Packers move closer to the Super Bowl. TVs When the Badgers went to the Rose Bowl, shoppers started bridal gowns buying big screens for the big game. Now, they’re focused on the Packers, said Tony Doll, sales associate for Ray’s TV and Appliance, 33 S. Pioneer Road.
Customers are looking at 42-inch to 50-inch TVs. Doll said it helps that prices have rs money dropped below $1,000 for the big screens. With the economy changing, it seems like shoppers are willing to spend again, he added. Food The Packers keep the fans away from Schreiner’s — at least during the game. Before game time, however, the popular Fond du Lac restaurant is swamped with customers, said Paul Cunningham, owner. Since Schreiner’s has a presence on Highway 41, it sees a lot of traffic from ticketholders on their way power leveling to Green Bay. If it’s a Sunday, local fans will stop in to eat after church, before heading home to get ready for the game. “This is a national holiday in Wisconsin,” he said. “For us, it’s all very positive.” On game day, every seat is taken at JR’s, 65 N. Main St. Owner Rachel Wise said she needed additional staff to keep up with orders. The sports bar and grill has 14 TVs available to show the popular Packers and Badgers games.