Minnesota Public Radio an interesting article about businesses who might not fair well when the GOP Convention is in town.  Some businesses like Wescott Station Antiques think the conventioneers will want to kill time by shopping in their store.  But other store owners are not as optimistic about a pick up in business:

"Everyone loves Cossetta's, it seems. The restaurant's walls are covered with autographed photos of Frank Sinatra and other celebrities complimenting Cossetta's on its cuisine.

But manager Ray Vanyo doesn't expect the convention will give Cossetta's much of a boost. Vanyo figures convention-goers will likely hit ritzier restaurants.

'We are a little bit more laid back. We're not as upscale as some of the other restaurants,' said Vanyo. 'And people that are going to a convention are generally going to go to those types of places, because they are bringing people out to dinner.'"

It is true that delegates and their guests are swooned by big corporations that will sponsor events at venues like Kincaid's, W.A. Frost, and the 112 Eatery, but many of the 10,000 volunteers, 15,000 credentialed press and the plethora of protesters will look to establishments like Cosetta's to get them through the week. 

The article goes on to spotlight a Bush-Hater, Scott Cramer, owner of Northern Sun Merchandising who makes his money by selling anti-Bush pins and buttons. 

"Cramer expects to find thousands of customers among the protesters heading for the Twin Cities. And maybe he'll make some sales to convention delegates, too. Cramer says a lot of the messages on his merchandise are pretty mainstream."

Ah, capitalism.  I hope Cramer makes a million using an economic system he no doubts hates.