Local businesses gear up for packed Philly playoff Saturday

A busy playoff weekend for Philadelphia sports teams is driving a surge in orders for local businesses.

At Serpe’s Bakery near Wilmington, staff say Philly-themed treats are in high demand as fans prepare for a Saturday night packed with playoff games.

“We are taking orders now for the weekend. We are taking orders for any day. We can take any amount — cookies, cupcakes, tomato pies with logos on them,” Nick Serpe said.

Across town at Fulton Paper and Party Supplies, the focus is on team gear.

“We are ready — orange and black,” the owner said.

He added that Flyers merchandise was ordered in advance of the second playoff round, while Sixers supplies will follow if the team wins Saturday.

“Me and my wife were lying in bed watching when they were up three nothing and I’m like this time to do our order, so I got out the iPad,” Mike Gavetti said.

With food and decorations covered, many fans are expected to head out to watch the games at local bars, including Chickie’s & Pete’s in Malvern.

Hosting two major games at once presents a unique challenge — deciding what to show.

“It’ll be dependent on the crowd. If more people are here in Flyers jerseys, we will probably put Flyers on. If more people are in Sixers jerseys, we will get that going,” John Zehren, owner of Chickies and Pete’s, said.

For those watching in person, there’s no shortage of screens. But fans at home may need to get creative.

Split screens, extra TVs, tablets and phones are all options — especially for those who like to switch back and forth.

“I’m a flipper. I go from one game to the other,” one fan said.

This time, though, there’s a bit of relief for viewers juggling both matchups.

The games are airing on regular TV instead of streaming apps, making it easier to keep up with both.

However fans choose to watch — and whatever they eat or drink — many are hoping for a pair of Saturday night playoff wins to keep the momentum going.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.

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