Local Businesses Celebrate Viking Playoff Football
The Minnesota Vikings are headed to a high-stakes playoff game on Monday.
Brandon Robles, who was walking along Main Street in Maple Grove on Friday, was cautiously optimistic about the Vikings’ chances.
“It’s kind of like a roller coaster of emotions when you’re a fan of the Vikings,” he said. “I’ve got some hope, some simmering hope.”
His friend Austin Winn concurred.
“Classic Vikings, they do so good and then they just poop the bed most years, but I have faith this year,” he said.
The pair had little planned for their Monday Night Football experience.
Robles expected to get “Just 32 wings — bucket — in front of the T.V. by myself.”
Winn had even lower expectations.
“I’m just going to be sitting in front of my T.V., probably crying,” he said.
Local bars, like Broadway Bar and Pizza in Maple Grove, are hoping Robles and Winn are in the minority.
Maple Grove’s Broadway Bar and Pizza expects to be busy for Monday’s Vikings game.
Matt Pohlkamp, owner and general manager of Broadway, said the recent Vikings wins have been good for business.
“As the Vikings started playing, it started slow the first game,” he said. “But it built, and built, and built, and built, and built as they played. And I think just the excitement of, as well as the Vikings have been doing this year really drives in a lot more people too.”
Game nights have typically been busy at the bar, with classics like wings, pizza and cheese bread proving to be popular.
“As we continue through the playoffs — and I’m going to say it — make it to the Super Bowl this year — it’s going to be very busy,” Pohlkamp said.
Meanwhile, in Plymouth, Luce Line Brewing aims to draw in football fans with free samples.
“Everytime the Vikings score, we do a round of shots for everybody, complimentary,” said Tim Naumann, owner of Luce Line. “Tends to be more featuring our beer, seltzer.”
Typically, Luce Line isn’t open on a Monday. But the business is making an exception for the rare playoff game.
“It’s a really great time, what we think is just a great way to get out of the house, have a fun time, share the experience of the Vikings,” Naumann said.
