COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — While lifelong fans are enjoying the best season in decades, a sports bar in West Michigan is also enjoying the increase in business when the team is on.
Vitale's in Comstock Park has been booming with each Lions victory this season. Owner Agustino Vitale says that he's rarely seen crowds like they've had this year to watch the Lions every Sunday.
In fact, he says business doubles when Detroit is playing and the fans and staff both are having a much better day when the team comes out on top.
"We love it. Sundays are just so much more enjoyable that they're winning," says Vitale. "We haven't seen this much excitement since the days of Barry Sanders. And because they're doing so well, they've had like four or five primetime games, which makes it even more exciting."
Vitale also says while the fans who have been coming to watch games for years are having the time of their lives, new guests are enjoying the ride just as much.
"We've had seen a lot of new faces and old faces and and coming out to see the Lions," says Vitale. "It just makes it so much more exciting and enjoyable and even the diehard Lion fans, the old fellas, you can see a smile on their face and that's awesome."
Vitale says the bar was incredibly loud this past Sunday when the Lions clinched that division title, with people yelling and high-fiving all around.
They'll be open Saturday night for the Lions game against the Dallas Cowboys and he says if you plan to come out, it is definitely in your best interest to get there early because space fills up fast.
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