Northland Businesses Love Homegrown Music Fest

DULUTH- Local shops are telling us Homegrown is like tourist season come early, but it's really the community togetherness they love.

The Amazing Grace Café is usually a relaxed nook in Canal Park but Homegrown bands have turned the tiny eatery, upside down.

The owner tells us throughout Homegrown the café has been packed and it's been standing room only.

The festival has not only increased her business, but she says it has introduced new customers to her business.

Amazing Grace Café owner, Marcie Stoyke said, "oh you know it's been great. And you know Duluthians love their musicians, and they treat them well. And we've had nothing but packed houses every night this week. It's impacted my business just cause there's a lot of it."

She says business throughout the festival has been reminiscent of a busy summer day.

She says the best part is the sense of community togetherness the festival brings.

The festival is also helping musicians put more green into their pockets.

"Portage" drummer, Adam Rosenthal said, "in a town like Duluth, it's a pretty small music community, so if you play a good show at Homegrown, and a lot of people see you then it's going to be easier to get gigs with venue owners and places like that."

Rosenthal tells us, Homegrown also gives bands like his the opportunity to sell more merchandise.
He says more of his band's target demographic tends to go to Homegrown.

While businesses all over the northland are seeing a boom, organizers tells us this party is only just getting started because the weekend is upon us.

They expect to see a lot of traffic from the Cities.