Restaurants outside downtown Sioux Falls face slow month without Burger Battle

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The 13th Annual Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle is in full swing, with 50 restaurants competing for bragging rights and drumming up business. Each year generates millions of dollars in economic impact through sales and tax revenue to the city.

But what does it mean for local restaurants outside of the downtown area?

The idea behind the Burger Battle is to drive sales during the slowest month of the year. It’s been a raving success, but businesses outside of downtown, like Sunny’s Pizzeria or The Dive, don’t get to reap the benefit. In fact, a slow January is par for the course.

Sunny’s Pizzeria presses on despite seeing less traffic. Owner Jon Oppold said January brings a perfect storm of factors that lead to that common sales slump. Some stay home due to the winter weather. Others are trying to save money after spending big during the holidays. New Year’s resolutions might make others change their diet.

Usually, Sunny’s at least benefits from its proximity to the local universities, but that isn’t the case in January.

“When you put together no students, people eating out less, cold weather and then factor in Burger Battle having everybody downtown, it just makes for a pretty slow month,” Oppold explained.

The Dive sees a similar dip in sales each January. They used to take part in the Burger Battle, but after moving to Western Avenue, they don’t get to show off what they’re known for, which is ironically their burgers.

They’re sort of in no man’s land. They took part in the Southside Slamwich competition in its first year, but have been boxed out of that, too, because their location is North of 41st Street. Owner and Manager Allen Wright loves the Burger Battle, but wishes there were other initiatives to help businesses elsewhere in the city.

“I think it drives business down there, but it’s so focused and surgical, it’s not benefiting the greater Sioux Falls,” Wright said. “It’s just downtown.”

The competition continues to drive economic impact, which has been crucial in the last few years when fewer people are going out to eat and drink. Wright and Oppold agree with the positives. Oppold called it a “great promotion,” and he even saw some benefits from extra foot traffic as a part-owner of Orion Pub downtown, despite the pub staying out of the contest.

However, while both Oppold and Wright praise the competition, they said it doesn’t benefit each restaurant as much as before, with the sales spread out among more restaurants than ever.

“It’s kind of at a critical mass. I still think people still benefit greatly from it, but I don’t think it helps as much as it used to for each individual business because everything’s so spread out now,” stated Oppold.

“I think it’s one of the best things Sioux Falls has done for local restaurants and businesses, but it’s kind of lost sight of its mission or purpose,” said Wright.

Wright continued by offering ideas to make the Burger Battle or other competitions benefit more than downtown businesses, like hosting competitions within certain “districts” of the city to face off against the winners of other “district” winners, extending the competition length, allowing more to be involved and maintaining a “neighborhood feel.”

“I think it’s still a good thing,” said Wright. “I don’t think it needs to go anywhere. I just think it needs to be fine-tuned, more honed in.”

Oppold has also seen both sides of the Burger Battle. When they partnered with the EightyOne Arcade Bar, they entered the contest, but they’ve also watched numerous Burger Battles from the sidelines. He said it takes an extra effort to increase sales and give customers a reason to visit. They host events that Oppold admitted they wouldn’t normally host in busier months in the summer. They host an NFL Blitz league, a trivia league, painting events, and beer and pizza pairings.

“I mean, as a business owner, you have two choices,” described Oppold. “You can either complain about it and do nothing, or you can get creative, too, and try to figure out ways to make it happen for you.”

Wright said that The Dive has hosted events like “bar talks” similar to a TED Talk or even bingo nights to get people through their doors.

Oppold said his message isn’t for residents to skip the Burger Battle. He loves supporting other local restaurants and getting a good burger here and there, too. His message is simply to think of the other restaurants in town.

“We’re still open. We’re still serving. Don’t forget about us,” Oppold said.

Oppold said local businesses are the heartbeat of the community because of their investment back into the community and the uniqueness they bring to the city.