BUSINESSES FIND MIXED BLESSING

In real estate, the golden rule is "location, location, location."

Businesses around Capaha Park were keenly aware of that rule Friday afternoon as thousands of people streamed into the neighborhood for the Clinton-Gore rally.

Renee Schoen and others from St. Mark Lutheran Church's youth group set up a lemonade stand at the corner of Normal and West End Blvd. to take advantage of the traffic.

The youth group is raising money to travel to New Orleans next year for a convention, said Schoen, who lives in Oak Ridge.

"We're just trying to start off early this year," she said.

Passersby could purchase lemonade for 50 cents or water for a quarter at the stand.

Traffic was cut off to the Hardee's Restaurant at Broadway and West End, but plenty of people were walking in for lunch before the rally started in the park.

"It seems to be helping us a little bit," said manager Lois Shoemate. "They keep coming in in groups, but everybody's been very nice."

Tim Lutes, the manager at Kidd's Gas & Convenience Store, was keeping a close eye on the traffic as well.

"What's happened is we're not getting a steady flow. We're getting people in spurts," Lutes said.

The traffic barricade was a mixed blessing, he said.

"Walk-in business is great. It's pretty well killed the drive-through business."