By Tara Kyle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN WEST — Football fans across the city weren't the only ones jumping for joy over news the New York area will host the 2014 Super Bowl — local businesses are looking forward to the spike in profits the game is expected to bring during what is traditionally a dreary time of year for sales.
“January is very slow every year for us,” said John Balha, 47, manager at Grand Slam New York, a souvenir store at 1557 Broadway in Times Square. “But with the Super Bowl, I’m sure we can do pretty good.”
Lids, a hat seller at 1584 Broadway, usually takes a loss in January, said store manager Christina Crespo, 22. Because of the cold weather, she said that after New Year's Day, "It's flat, flat-line dead here."
Crespo estimates that a Super Bowl bump may bring in an extra $2,500 in monthly profits, allowing the store to break even in the first quarter.
At the Hotel Edison at 228 W. 47th St., general manager John Canavan said that even with a strong inventory of accommodations available around the city, he anticipates a January 2014 occupancy increase in the range of 20 percent.
“This just comes at a perfect time,” Canavan said.
