OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — New Oshkosh business owners are hopeful the large crowd from EAA AirVenture 2022 will put them on the world map.
On Oshkosh Avenue near Interstate 41, people will find a new restaurant serving up Mexican street food.
"It's the food that we grew up eating back in California," said Elie Saad, The Taqueria co-owner. "It's been absolutely wonderful to share our culture, and the food and service the community."
People can enjoy homemade recipes at The Taqueria, including burritos, quesadillas, tamales, street corn and rice water.
The restaurant opened about a month ago, just in time for this year's AirVenture.
"We're extremely excited. We are expecting a bump in business," Saad said. "We want people coming back not only to our restaurant, but also to Oshkosh."
Saad said they've ordered as much food and drinks as they can to prepare for the hundreds of thousands of people in town for the event.
He said they're most excited to exchange stories with customers from near and far.
"That's what it's about, right? That's what we're about here at the Taqueria and that's what EAA is about: bringing people together," Saad said.
Oshkosh Brew Bike launched this past weekend. It's a 14-passenger peddle bike people can ride around town to tour the downtown area.
"We do two hour tours throughout the downtown Oshkosh area as a fun alternative way of exploring the outdoors and site seeing in Oshkosh," said Dan Brosman, Oshkosh Brew Bike co-owner.
Brosman said passengers can stop at up to three establishments along the way.
"I figured, why not just do something like this? Help support our local businesses, attract tourism to the area and create a new fun activity in Oshkosh," Brosman said.
It's more tourism Brosman hopes an EAA crowd can help build up.
"Half a million people come to town for AirVenture each year and this is a great way for them to see Oshkosh in a new way," Brosman said.
EAA AirVenture generates $170 million for five counties in the Oshkosh region, including Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet and Brown Counties, according to a 2017 UW-Oshkosh economic impact study.
Around 608,000 people attended AirVenture last year. Despite travel restrictions, international visitors came in from 66 countries in 2021.
"We kind of talk about it as our Super Bowl. Our Disney World. It's just a really big week. We're talking about our hotels being full, our restaurants being full," Amy Albright, Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director. "Whoever you're talking about, they are probably being touched by an event that really increases the size of our city by quite a bit."
With travel back to pre-pandemic numbers, EAA officials except to see more international visitors this year.
