Preparations Underway For Monday's Heat Parade Of Champions
MIAMI (CBS4) - While all eyes will be on the Miami Heat players as they make their way down 8th Street and Biscayne Blvd. for the Championship celebration Monday, businesses are hoping to get some of the attention, too.
If it's anything like it was Thursday, Antonio Hanono with Absolute Premium Cigars says business will be booming.
"(I) was so excited. We were packed. I was so happy. A lot of people coming, a lot of business," Hanono said. "For the parade Monday, we're excited also. I know it will bring a lot of people."
Barricades are already in place in front of the shops along Southwest 8th street east of I-95.
Business owners say that doesn't bother them one bit.
"It's been my experience, when you have a parade or something on 8th street, you have good business all the time," Hanono said.
The manager of the pizza shop a few doors down agreed.
"A lot of people going to be here," Antonio Scotto of Mamma Lucia Pizza said. "Even Thursday night we closed at 5 o'clock in the morning."
On Saturday, Scotta already had a parade plan ready.
"We already plan to bring more staff," Scotto said. "Usually we're three people. It's going to be six people."
The team at Planet Sushi next door is hoping to ride the Heat wave, too.
"There's a lot of people that are going to be standing here but they don't come inside," Planet Sushi manager Michael Croizet said. "They're more likely to eat pizza than eat sushi."
Employees at Atlas Embroidery and Screen Printing in Fort Lauderdale have been busy.
They've printed all the Heat championship gear. On Saturday, they revealed the official parade t-shirt the players will wear Monday.
The parade wraps up at the American Airlines Arena with an official celebration.
The event is free but it's already sold out.
Those lucky enough to snag a ticket will have to be inside by 10:30 Monday morning.
They'll be able to watch the parade on the screens inside.
