The newly-opened Overture Center's crowd-drawing ability has positively affected nearby establishments, according to several State Street businesses.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's \Phantom of the Opera"" recently concluded a 26-day run at Overture Hall, exceeding production officials' expectations by filling approximately 97 percent of overall capacity, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
Peter Ludt, manager of Espresso Royale Caffe, 208 State St., said January typically brings a decrease in business because many UW-Madison students are out of town for winter break. Not so with ""Phantom"" in town.
""With this show, it was bopping,"" Ludt said.
Ludt added while the production, with multiple shows each week, brought in additional customers, distance prevented the Espresso Royale at the opposite end of State Street from reaping similar benefits.
The Overture Center is also booking larger productions more often than the old Civic Center, according to Ludt.
""They're being more consistent about their big shows and as a result it does affect business,"" Ludt said.
Tutto Pasta Trattoria, 305 State Street, has also experienced increased traffic since the Overture's opening in September. Tutto manager Juan Murillo said his establishment had high hopes in the weeks before the grand opening.
""Looking at the information that we got saying the Overture Center was sold out already for some of the shows, we were expecting to be busy,"" Murillo said.
Indeed, Tutto Pasta was busy-the restaurant did 30 percent more business this January than last. Tutto also struck a deal to offer those associated with ""Phantom"" a discount and handed out fliers to the staff.
Dino Christ, owner of Nick's Restaurant, 226 State St., said Overture's opening brought people to State Street who ordinarily do not venture downtown. He added the two-week period after the opening was especially good for business.
""It was hectic, but it was good,"" Christ said.
According to Christ, the restaurant gets its biggest boost in patronage at dinner time, just before a show.
Christ said that although it may prove difficult to reproduce the success of a month-long show such as ""Phantom,"" he remains confident Overture will bring in enough successful week-long productions to keep neighboring businesses happy.
Christ said he underestimated the impact the Overture Center would have on his business, adding actors and crew also frequented Nick's to unwind after productions.
""I thought with so many shows and so many restaurants that we would just get small portions on a daily basis, but we were pretty much full every single show,"" Christ said.
