Franklin Street Businesses Prepare for Game Day, Halloween Crowds
Halloween and game day are expected to bring large crowds to Franklin Street on Saturday, providing a boost for local businesses and prompting additional public safety measures.
For longtime Franklin Street business Sutton's Drug Store, the weekend also offers a reminder of the area's past.
"Having that feeling of coming to Franklin Street saying hey, it reminds me of home," Joe Vizzari said. He added that the area still maintains a festive atmosphere during major events.
While Franklin Street may not look the way it did years ago, businesses are hoping the holiday will bring back some of the energy associated with past celebrations.
Students confirmed that Halloween continues to attract larger crowds than a typical weekend night.
With Franklin Street remaining open this year, law enforcement officials said their focus will be on crowd management and pedestrian safety.
"There is a lot of traffic on game days, and I know Halloween will probably make that worse," Olivia Vorhis noted.
Officials expect heavy pedestrian traffic and congestion Saturday night and will have additional police officers and firefighters on hand. They are urging visitors to allow extra travel time and watch for pedestrians.
UNC is scheduled to play No. 1 Miami at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The game will air on ABC11.