Grand Park brings business to Westfield restaurants

WESTFIELD, Ind. – With four hundred acres and dozens of sports fields, there’s nothing quite like Grand Park in Westfield.

This weekend the $45 million facility will hold its official grand opening. Businesses in town said they’re already cashing in and seeing profits.

The park opened to tournaments and events back in March, during a soft opening.

But when tourists come here, they have to find somewhere to eat. That’s why local restaurants are happy.

In business for 11 years, Adam Hoffman at Big Hoffa’s BBQ in Westfield can’t believe how busy he’s become.

“It’s just been a blessing for us,” he said, “We expanded six months ago in hopes that the Grand Park would help, and it’s worked out.”

The Los Angeles native anticipates his sales shot up roughly twenty percent since March, when Grand Park opened. It’s business he said is mainly tourists from out of town.

“They find their way here,” said Hoffman.

Just down the street, Grand Junction Brewing Company is two months old but already filling a niche.

“Still pretty new, fresh, and shiny,” said Molly Nagy, “Being Westfield’s first brewery, we have that attraction for some parents that are taking a break from the fields.”

Though the pub is only for the 21-and-older crowd, Nagy said they’ve seen sporting scouts there having a beverage, one of five brews made right in house.

The city of Westfield anticipates 1.5 million visitors will come to the park each year. This weekend, the grand opening, is meant for locals to show off the space.

Adam Hoffman’s already a fan of what the park’s done to his bottom line, and he’s anxious for the future, one likely filled with barbecue.

“Now we just have to be able to handle the business,” he said.