By Makenna Smith
Kelly Sanders has dreamed up a real-life love letter to Pittsburgh during the upcoming NFL draft: A day-party, or “darty,” packed with football-shaped pizzas from No Horns Pizza, sausage sandwiches, or “sandies,” from Parma Sausage, Millie’s ice cream scoops, and “The Draft Draft” from East End Brewing.
Sanders, the owner of retail store “love, Pittsburgh,” has spent months bringing the event to life ahead of the NFL Draft. But even with all the planning, there’s still uncertainty.
“We have to embrace the draft but also not go too deep in draft-specific merchandise or anticipation, because it’s a lot of guesswork,” Sanders said. “We don’t know how the foot traffic will bleed into the city. We all have to anticipate the increase, but not get too overblown because it is one weekend.”
For small business owners across Pittsburgh, the NFL Draft isn’t just a football event; it’s a high-stakes weekend that could shape their year, bringing both a surge of opportunity and a wave of uncertainty.
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