SAN DIEGO — Comic-Con is one of the busiest times of the year for Downtown San Diego. Businesses are preparing for the influx of customers and some are getting creative to celebrate the event.
People wearing costumes of all kinds will line the streets downtown this weekend, and the staff of many restaurants and bars will be dressed up too.
Barleymash is one business expecting a huge wave of people this week.
"We probably double if not triple the amount of foot traffic we get downtown and at Barleymash on a typical weekend," Manager Greg Schirra said.
The restaurant will be Gotham-themed to celebrate the event.
"We prepare for it, we staff up for it, we make plans to decorate the building, the staff dresses up they get into costume," Schirra said.
The downstairs speakeasy will be transformed into 'Oz's Hideout' and serve special food and drinks playing into the theme.
Leading up to the event, Swing Social is hosting special trivia nights.
"Tuesday and Wednesday to ramp up to the weekend we’re doing a Nintendo theme and a Marvel vs DC theme trivia," Assistant Manager Alexander Kirkpatrick said.
Outside the convention, it'll be a good time to people watch downtown.
"We’re really excited to see all the people walk, all the new costumes every year," Kylee, a bartender at Union Kitchen and Tap said.
"The people watching downtown will be amazing that week, our patio will be busy all week," Schirra said.
Comic-Con also gives local businesses a chance to share what San Diego has to offer.
"It’s a celebration of not only art and culture but also a celebration of San Diego," Schirra said. "We really get to show off what we have here to really the world, because people come from all over the globe to visit san Diego for this event."
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