‘It is Christmas’: Businesses near the track cash in on Indy 500

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — The month of May is a driving force in Speedway.

As race day approaches, businesses near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are pulling out all the stops to make sure they cash in.

“I am a normal little boutique 10 months out of the year. But for 6 weeks I am black and white,” said Three Sisters and a Trunk owner, Marie Hall.

Hall’s husband was a race car driver. Now, her boutique on Main Street holds racing memorabilia and has become a staple for race fans looking for festive apparel.

“They want to see what is new. They want to get this. ‘Oh I didn’t get that last year I need it this year.’ ‘What do you have new this year?,’” Hall explained.

Another staple for race fans is Dawson’s on Main.

“We have people from all over the country and other countries coming in here all the time so it is pretty cool to hear why they are here and how they are staying and what they are doing in Indy,” said Jeramy Davasher who is a bartender at Dawson’s on Main. 

You can see traces of the track in the decor, on the staff and even on the building.

These businesses say race season is their biggest time of year financially.

“May is our holiday, is our holiday for many reasons,” said Hall.

“It is Christmas,” said Davasher.

When it’s not race season Hall says “it is a quiet little town.”

For now people are sitting on patios listening to the sweet sounds of cars speeding around the track.

“It is just a nice pleasant noise in the background. It just kind of makes sense around here,” said Davasher.

People in this area say any time during the month of May you can come to Main Street and can anticipate a racing atmosphere. However, they say race weekend and the week leading up are the busiest days of the year on Main Street.