Rapid City buckling up for Sturgis Rally business

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The rally means business in the Black Hills area, and many stores and restaurants are preparing for the increase in people.

With the thousands of motorcyclists coming to Rapid, catering to their needs is a must for many businesses. Some places may change their hours, and restaurants may see a bump in their carry-out options, but location is king when it comes to working during the rally. One coffee shop is hoping to stake their claim at their new location.

”A lot of people end up going down Mount Rushmore Road before they hop back on I-190 to head up to Sturgis, so, we are a little bit closer, a little bit better access on that front, so we are hoping to see an increase on traffic just from the people cruising the Hills,” Jesse O’Connor, the managing owner of Dunn Brother Coffee on 5th Street, said.

O’Connor says one of his worries is with traffic and making sure they can serve everyone, in-store and in the drive-thru, without getting bombarded with orders.

During 2023, the Rally brought in more than $800 thousand in revenue from sales tax alone, so, many businesses are trying to get a piece of the financial pie.

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