Center City businesses gear up for the Democratic National Convention

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- With just five days before the kickoff of the Democratic National Convention, local businesses are busy preparing to show the world what Philadelphia has to offer.

At Chris's Jazz Club on Sansom, the expectation is out of towners will be looking for authentic.

"Because it's the Democratic National Convention I think that they are going to focus a little more on the little guy, and they're going to come out and they're going to come to the jazz clubs and the local bars," said Mark DeNinno, owner.

The lure of a good dinner before and good jazz after the convention along with themed libations.

"Cocktails that were favorites of past presidents, and beers that were favorites of past presidents," said DeNinno.

The Reading Terminal is gearing up for those looking for authentic in the a.m.

"The terminal itself is opening an hour earlier so we open up at 7 instead of 8," said Kevin Beiler, Beiler's Bakery.

There are hotel rooms available, but the industry says 50,000 visitors will make it a busy week.

"Our restaurants will do well. Our bars will do well," said Ed Grose, Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.

Retailers also figure DNCers will have money to spend, from bobble heads and such, and one-of-a-kind works in oil of Hilary Clinton.

"From an artist, Carlo Trevisan, who's very enamored with her," said Debbie Morton, Carre D'Artists Art Gallery.

Luxe Home Philadelphia, a high-end furniture store, says regular summer tourists buy, and it expects conventioneers to do the same.

"It's the smallest pieces, takeaways, items that are easily shipable that we focus on in the summer with a little bit more intention put into it for the convention," said Jean Rebovich, Luxe Home.

So what is all the buying, staying and eating worth?

The Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates $250-300 million, dwarfing the largest recent conventional convention, which was the American Diabetes Association.

"We hosted them back 2012. They were about $59 million in economic impact to the city, and they had about $17,000 attendees," said Julie Coker Graham, CEO PHLCVB.