Print edition: 
Ty Issa spent his mornings this week with his children on spring break.
It's a sigh of relief for a restaurateur who's had a lot on his plate this year: adapting to a huge influx of business at his Larkspur restaurant on event nights at Intrust Bank Arena; a fire that shut the restaurant down for 11 days; the search for ways to expand his restaurant brand downtown.
But Issa's not the sort to sit back and enjoy a lot of down time. There are customers to be served, new concepts to be analyzed and deals to be struck as he works to build his market share in a growing downtown.
What effect has Intrust Bank Arena had on your business?
"It's been just phenomenal. So far, from what we've seen, it's drawn an element of people to Old Town that ordinarily would never come downtown. All the hotels around us are full when there is a major concert, and we are too from 5 to 7.
"So much so that we're just not able to book our banquet room for banquets when there's an event at the arena. I have to use it to expand our seating, but that's good. I think the effect of the arena to anybody you talk to downtown is creating energy. That's great."
Has the arena changed your thinking about the future of your business downtown? Is there any chance of a different Issa restaurant concept downtown?
"Yes, there is, but you've got to have the right place. The parking issue downtown scares me. What we're doing is some due diligence on some other ideas. Old Town has a need, I think, for some more flair."
Like what?
"I can't tell you yet. Once I tell you what and where, the prices go up for property."
What's the state of your business today?
"I don't like to talk about numbers, but we were down about 5 percent last year, and that's really pretty good. In our business, flat is good. Just need to keep growing."
What are the biggest challenges in front of you today, with the fire behind you and the arena open?
"The economy in the area is still not that strong. The arena came in as perfect timing. Old Town thrives on conventions, and we're not as strong in that area as we need to be. The arena replaced a soft element in that area so we're just cruising.
"We still haven't recovered economically. I know from the Courtyard Marriott, where we work a lot of functions, that companies aren't spending a lot of money. That's a big portion of our business — really where the 5 percent comes from — and they're buying snacks, beverages and tea. Companies are still in a cutting mode.
"Really, though, the second quarter of the year is Old Town season. You get the better weather, the theaters, the foot traffic. If it's strong, then we just say Old Town is consistent and we realize that we had some growth in 2007 and 2008 that we'll never see again."
