The magic rolls into Silvis for tournament week

The biggest week of the year for the City of Silvis is here.  The John Deere Classic, the Quad Cities’ annual PGA Tour event, has taken over the Silvis golf course TPC at Deere Run this week, through Sunday, July 9.  Mayor Matt Carter says it will be “all hands on deck” for tournament week. […]

The biggest week of the year for the City of Silvis is here.  The John Deere Classic, the Quad Cities’ annual PGA Tour event, has taken over the Silvis golf course TPC at Deere Run this week, through Sunday, July 9.  Mayor Matt Carter says it will be “all hands on deck” for tournament week. Several city departments will be cleaning up the main thoroughfares of Crosstown, First Avenue and Avenue of the Cities.  Between the increased retail and hotel sales, he said Silvis will see a nice financial bump through the sales tax. That’s a big deal for a city of 8,000. 

“Visit Quad Cities tells us that this tournament brings in $50 million to the area,” Mr. Carter said.  He adds that “security won’t be a problem as the PGA Tour hires a variety of law enforcement officers from across the QCA. Neither will there be any local traffic concerns,” as most fans will be bused in on shuttles.  Several relatively new businesses are just an iron-shot away from TPC down the Avenue of the Cities and they all are expecting an uptick in business.  Foti Padazopoulos is the new owner of the Egg Parlor at 1211 Avenue of the Cities. He’ll run some specials and add on a couple of extra staffers, along with offering Greek and mimosa flights specials.  He just bought the restaurant from Mitch Kadriu, who also owns Tap 22, around the bend from the Silvis Hy-Vee. Mr. Kadriu is tech-savvy, running Google ads and pushing for food reviews.  “I’ll start promoting before the tournament begins,” he told the QCBJ. “People google ‘restaurants near me’ and I’ve got a thousand reviews to draw them. People are looking for popular places.” 

Next door at Godfather’s Pizza, owner Andy Fuhrman also expects sales to be up. He gives himself an edge by supplying the caddies room with free pizzas – sometimes twice a day. “Our hotel deliveries are always up, too,” he notes. He, too, will be adding staff and running Google and Facebook ads soon.  Business is up some 15% more this year at La Herradura Mexican Grill since opening at 685 Avenue of the Cities in late 2021. Manager Octavio Salinas believes “a lot more people know about us now after last year’s tournament. It helps that we offer alcoholic beverages after they spend all day outside.”  He plans on offering beer and margarita specials. 

The mayor is firm in his belief that one downtown business has become an icon for golfers, caddies and fans. He thinks Frank’s Pizzeria does a big business.  But all that glitters isn’t gold in Silvis. A few other downtown retailers are not happy about the lack of 1st Avenue promotions. Julia Clark has owned her Floral & Gifts for six years and is both disappointed and surprised.  “I’ve even offered 20% discounts but the fans don’t know where downtown Silvis is and they probably fear getting lost trying to find us,” Ms. Clark said, adding “It’s kind of a joke.”  Ironically, for golf fans who will spend a full day out walking in the heat, Ms. Clark carries a number of different “pain” creams.   Candy Overton also sees no extra traffic in her store tournament week. You wouldn’t think golf fans would be interested in her Go Go Variety Thrift store, but she says wives and daughters might want to shop. “We don’t get any of the golf fan business because Silvis doesn’t promote anything downtown,” she said.  Still, hope springs eternal for Jorge Hurtado and his wife, Fernanda, who opened their new Creative Pastries & Coffee restaurant downtown in early May. He’s hoping some of those golf fans find them. 

“We’ll work up some specials and hope to attract folks here for our different pastries and refreshing  salads and drinks, like with watermelon,” he said. Another brand new Silvis business hoping for a bump in business from the JDC is Barkin' Beans Coffee Co., which held its grand opening Saturday, July 1.  

Abigail Cantrill and her full-time military husband Blake are the new owners of

the drive-through, sit-down coffee place on Avenue of the Cities. Located about a half-mile from the TPC course, it is the former Iron & Grain Coffee House.

Ms. Cantrill's plans are to offer a 10% discount to customers showing their tourney ticket and to add extra staff that week.

“All of our foods are grab and go, too, with puff pastries, egg bites and more," she said.

And as the name implies, Barkin'  Beans is a very dog-friendly place with water bowls and doggie menu items. The Cantrills have three dogs themselves and are always looking for dog-friendly places like they’ve seen in Austin and Chicago, where they’ve lived and visited.

The motto for the tournament is “magic happens here.” The City of Silvis is hoping that comes true.